Crash of a Boeing 737-2A1 in São Paulo

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1978 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo
MSN:
20969
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
VP005
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport at 2015LT on flight VP005 to São Paulo. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was unable to lower the undercarriage and decided to complete a belly landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane slid for few hundred meters before coming to rest in flames onto the runway. All 44 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31P Pressurized Navajo in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-DTK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
31-62
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and attempted to return for an emergency landing when the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames on a road located near the airport. All three occupants were killed and two people on the ground were injured.

Crash of a Learjet 25C in Campinas: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1976 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-IBR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Manaus – São Paulo
MSN:
25-072
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport in the afternoon on a flight to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. En route, the crew was informed about the deterioration of weather conditions at destination and was vectored to Campinas-Viracopos Airport. On final approach by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees and crashed in an eucalyptus plantation located 2 km short of runway 14. The wreckage was found at 0700LT the following day. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed, among them five top managers from the Brazilian Mercedes Benz Branch.
Crew:
Jorge Casara, pilot,
Hugo Fernandes Rosa, copilot.
Passengers:
Friedrich Karl Binder,
Wilhelm Künkele,
Karl-Heinz Eisenmenger,
Willy Weltzer,
Helmut Surkemper.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110C Bandeirante in São Paulo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1975 at 0633 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SBE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo - Bauru - Araçatuba
MSN:
110-021
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
VP640
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 34 at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the crew reported problems with the right engine and attempted to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located in the district of Campo Belo near the airport. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. There were no victims on the ground.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reason.

Crash of a BAc 111-520FN in São Paulo

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SDQ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
228
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
82
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The landing at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown on a contaminated runway, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly and as the end of the runway was imminent, the captain decided to veer off runway to the left. While contacting a waterlogged ground, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane came to rest. All 88 occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The airplane suffered hydroplaning after landing on a wet runway. The braking coefficient was poor as there was an excessive accumulation of water on the runway surface.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-202 in São Paulo

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CTG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2063
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Maybe following a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed long and too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran, struck several obstacles and came to rest into a ravine bordering a marsh. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan in São Paulo

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1972 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-ANS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santos – São Paulo
MSN:
1513
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to São Paulo-Congonhas in poor visibility, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed short of runway threshold. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a NAMC YS-11A-211 near Petrópolis: 25 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1972 at 2126 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SMI
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew started the descent to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport from the north. While flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet by night and in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he just passed over AF NDB. Two minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Petrópolis, about 50 km north of Santos Dumont Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 25 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that while descending in IMC conditions, the crew mistakenly tuned the ADF instrument to a wrong NDB, causing the airplane to follow a wrong approach path and to descend at an inappropriate altitude. The lack of visibility due to the night and clouds was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Swearingen SA226T Merlin III in São Paulo

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1971
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DUX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
T-215
YOM:
1971
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. The airplane was destroyed and all five occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Londrina: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1969 at 2033 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Campo Grande – Londrina – São Paulo
MSN:
15618/27063
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Londrina Airport at 1833LT on the last leg to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport on a flight from Campo Grande to São Paulo. About 50 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to shut down the left engine and to feather its propeller. The captain was then cleared to return to Londrina for a safe landing as an emergency landing at Ourinhos Airport was not possible as it was not lighted at night. On final approach to runway 12 at Londrina Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames less than two km from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
Technical problems encountered en route with the left engine for undetermined reason.