Crash of a Vickers 827 Viscount in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1968 at 2120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo - São Paulo
MSN:
399
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport and was completing touch-and-go manoeuvres. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a district located 7,450 meters from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground. At the time of the accident, the crew was climbing with one engine inoperative, maybe two.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to insufficient speed while climbing with one or two engine inoperative. It is believed the crew may overestimated the aircraft capabilities and performances.

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500U in São Paulo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1968 at 2230 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PT-DDQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
500-1727-30
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed near the airport. While both passengers were injured, both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 214 in Curitiba: 21 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1967 at 1130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SDJ
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
São Paulo – Curitiba
MSN:
190
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Captain / Total flying hours:
14104
Captain / Total hours on type:
2568.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5963
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2021
Aircraft flight hours:
3191
Circumstances:
The aircraft, registration PP-SDJ, took off from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, at 1015 hours Z, with Curitiba-Afonso Pena, Paraná, as its destination, carrying five crew members and twenty passengers. In accordance with its approved IFR flight plan, the aircraft was to fly Airway Green 3 at flight level 130, and at a speed of 300 km/h. The flight time on the São Paulo-Curitiba segment was estimated to be 1:00 hour. After the take-off from São Paulo the flight proceeded in accordance with the approved flight plan in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) as far as the vicinity of Paranagul. There the aircraft changed to instrument flight (IMC) in moderate turbulence. At that moment one of the ADF was set on the Paranagul marine NDB (NX-320 kc/s) and the other on the Paranagud NDB (PG-340 kc/s). Without a correct fix being obtained over Paranagua the position report was transmitted at 1117 hours Z to Curitiba Control and the aircraft changed heading, approaching Curitiba on a magnetic heading of 283°. The ADFs were then set respectively on the frequencies of the Curitiba NDB (CT-390 kc/s) and the Bacacheri NDB (BI-300 kc/s). The pilots found it necessary to change the ADF frequencies several times on the São Paulo-Curitiba segment and finally one ADF was set on the Curitiba NDB and the other on Broadcasting Station ZYM-5 (560 kc/s). In reply to the position report Curitiba Control cleared the aircraft to descend to flight level 70 and report when having the Bacacheri NDB at 30°: the aircraft flew in IMC conditions and moderate turbulence with its airborne radar and VOR switched off. At 1126 hours Z the pilot reported his position to Curitiba Control as having the Bacacheri NDB at 30° and he was instructed to proceed and hold above Curitiba NDB and descend to flight level 50. At 1128 hours Z the pilot reported over Curitiba NDB and initiated the downwind leg (IFR descent pattern phase for touchdown on Curitiba-Afonso Pena runway 15). After this radio message the aircraft left the magnetic heading 283° relating to the São Paulo-Curitiba segment to intercept the downwind leg on a heading of 359° in the descent pattern. Seventeen seconds later when the aircraft had executed approximately 45° of a turn to the right, it collided on a heading of 325° with a hill at an altitude of 4 635 ft. At the moment of impact the aircraft was executing a turn with slight bank to the right. Two crew members and two passengers survived while 21 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was then consequence of pilot error through improper procedure in instrument flight. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of a dynamic programme for aircraft accident prevention,
- Non-confirmation over Curitiba-Afonso Pena NDB,
- Inaccurate position relative to Curitiba-Bacacheri NDB,
- Failure to use VOR equipment,
- Failure to execute all the phases of the descent, with assumed interception of downwind leg without confirmation of position,
- Momentary radio-direction finding indication of inaccurate fix.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Embu: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1964 at 1500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SPZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
São Paulo - São Paulo
MSN:
4649
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local training in the São Paulo area. Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the airplane apparently exploded and crashed near a highway located few km south of Embu. All three crew members were killed. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-228C in Caçador: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1964 at 0820 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PT-ATP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Videira
MSN:
2197
YOM:
1940
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 0620LT bound for Videira, carrying a load of foodstuffs. While descending to Videira, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in Caçador, about 30 km north of Videira's Airport. A crew member was seriously injured while both other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in São Paulo

Date & Time: May 5, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27237
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While parked at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the DC-4's wing tip was struck by a VARIG DC-6 registered PP-YSI. There were no injuries but the DC-4 was declared as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Convair CV-340-59 in São Paulo: 37 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1963 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
159
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
11997
Captain / Total hours on type:
8010.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2536
Copilot / Total hours on type:
800
Aircraft flight hours:
17960
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on scheduled domestic flight from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro with 5 crew and 45 passengers aboard. Following an eight-minute delay due to heavy traffic, the flight was cleared to take off from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. One minute after takeoff the pilot-in-command reported to the tower that the aircraft's n°2 engine was on fire, and he would return to the airport. A left turn was begun, and it is presumed that the pilot feathered n°2 propeller. He began the downwind leg to runway 16 and asked the tower operators whether anything abnormal could be seen regarding the aircraft's n°2 engine. The tower operators, from whom n°2 engine was hidden by the fuselage, reported that they could not see anything abnormal. Presumably the pilot unfeathered the propeller which started windmilling. Approximately abeam the tower, the aircraft began to lose altitude and when it started the final turn its altitude was very low. The aircraft was probably nosed up and stalled with a bank of 45°; it first struck a house with its nose and left wing, then hit the ground (elevation 800 meters) and made a 260° turn on its left wing. The accident occurred at night in a well illuminated, densely populated area. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and 4 crew members and 33 passengers were killed, 13 other occupants being injured.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the alarm bell, which indicated overheating, rang immediately after takeoff. The pilot-in-command, believing n°2 engine was on fire, presumably feathered n°2 propeller. As the flight entered the downwind leg, it was unfeathered, but the shut-off valve was not re-opened, and the propeller began windmilling. Although the engine n°1 was still operating at takeoff power, the altitude could not be maintained. When entering the last turn to base leg, the aircraft was very low, and the pilot presumably tried to lift the nose to avoid striking buildings near the airport. This caused the aircraft to stall. At this time, one of the crew probably used the flaps. Shortly thereafter the aircraft banked 45°, struck a house and crashed to the ground. It is highly probable that if the pilot had refeathered n°2 engine when he started losing altitude, he could have maintained altitude and landed safely. In conclusion, the probable primary cause of the accident was a pilot error and improper procedure on unfeathering n°2 engine. The probable secondary cause of the accident is a probable material failure of one or both engines overheating.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 in São Paulo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1963 at 1612 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CEV
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
6
YOM:
1948
Flight number:
SC403
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While descending to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low visibility. As a result, ATC instructed the crew to make a go around and to divert to another airport. The pilot-in-command started the go around manoeuvre when control was lost. The airplane stalled and crashed onto several houses located in the district of Jabaquara, less than one km short of runway 35. Three houses were destroyed and the airplane as well. A crew member, five passengers and seven people on the ground were killed while 39 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Control was lost while attempting a go around manoeuvre due top the failure of the left engine. It was reported that the crew failed to react properly to an emergency situation due, among others, to a lack of training.

Crash of a Saab Scandia 90A-1 in Paraibuna: 23 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1962 at 0909 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SRA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
107
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The Scandia aircraft was flying a scheduled domestic service from Congonhas Airport (São Paulo) to Santos Dumont (Rio de Janeiro). It left Congonhas at 1144 GMT on an instrument flight plan and was flying Airway AB-6 at the approved cruising altitude of 2,400 m. Five crew and 18 passengers were aboard. The flight advised of its progress en route and at 1203 hours was abeam São José dos Campos, estimating Ubatuba at 1214 hours. When it did not report Ubatuba as expected, an alert message was sent at 1242 hours. The Cessna had taken off from Santos Dumont at 1111 GMT en route to Campo de Marte in São Paulo. It was flying the same airway in the opposite direction on a VFR flight plan and carried 4 persons. Following its last contact with Santos Dumont it did not report its position. The alert phase was declared at 1251 hours, thirty minutes after its estimated time of arrival at Campo de Marte. It was learned later by the Inquiry that the sound of the two aircraft collided was heard, and eye witnesses saw them fall, at approximately 1209 hours.
Probable cause:
Both pilots failed to maintain adequate lookouts for other aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Concórdia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AVL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
São Paulo – Concórdia
MSN:
9886
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, carrying a load of frozen meat. The descent to Concórdia Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the airplane struck a hill and crashed 1,5 km short of runway threshold. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew completed the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions.