Zone
São Paulo

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation in São Paulo

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1961 at 1337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
EC-AIP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madrid – Tenerife – Sal – Natal – São Paulo – Montevideo – Buenos Aires – Santiago
MSN:
4552
YOM:
1954
Flight number:
IB991
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway 16 threshold. All 46 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined the approach was completed in heavy winds and turbulences and that the aircraft was caught by downdrafts during the last segment. However, it is reported the crew failed to adapt the approach speed to the wind conditions, causing the aircraft to lose height.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando in São Paulo

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
260
YOM:
1945
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at São Paulo-Congonhas, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen yards farther. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the published procedure for the landing maneuver and failed to take advantage of all braking systems after landing. A lack of coordination was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Saab Scandia 90A-1 in São Paulo: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1959 at 1840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab Scandia
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
106
YOM:
1950
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff by night, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and struck power cables. It stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 4,5 km from the airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Saab Scandia 90A-2 off Rio de Janeiro: 21 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1958 at 1209 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab Scandia
Operator:
Registration:
PP-SQE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
103
YOM:
1950
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing to a height of 50 meters, the left engine failed. The crew completed a turn to the left, continued for about 500 meters and then made a second turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. All four crew members and 17 passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to the pilot incorrect handling of the controls in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster off São Sebastião

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1957 at 1350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AXS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
7467
YOM:
1944
Location:
São Sebastião
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 meters, the engine number two fuel pressure dropped to zero. The crew feathered the propeller when the oil pressure on both left engines rose and smoke spread from the battery and generator compartment. The engine number two caught fire and the crew declared an emergency. Shortly later, the engine number two detached and the crew attempted to ditch the aircraft into the Praia de Balaia off São Sebastião. All 34 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of a pipe on the engine number two fuel supply system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Porto Alegre: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Porto Alegre – São Paulo
MSN:
19757
YOM:
1944
Location:
Porto Alegre-Salgado Filho
Rio Grande do Sul
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the airplane started to skid and deviated from the centerline to the right. The pilot-in-command decided to rotate but as the aircraft's speed was too low, it stalled and hit the ground. It then overran and took off again. While facing a hill, the crew attempted a sharp turn to the left when the left wing hit the roof of a house. Out of control, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Wrong takeoff techniques and configuration on part of the flying crew. The presence of turbulences at low height may have contribute to the accident. Also, the assumption that the left engine failed during takeoff was not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Anchieta Island: 26 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1957 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-ANX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
13048
YOM:
1944
Location:
Anchieta Island
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The aircraft was proceeding from Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo on IFR flight 1800 VD-3 and was near Ubatuba when fire broke out in the starboard engine. Finding it impossible to continue the flight, the pilot turned back to the south, losing altitude, intending to land at Ubatuba. Owing to slight rain, he failed to see Papagaio Peak on Anchieta Island until he was very close to it. When he attempted to pull the nose up to clear the obstruction the aircraft went into a stall and crashed against the mountain at 1520LT and burned. Three crew members and twenty-three passengers were killed. One crew member and three passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was power plant failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Salesópolis: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1957 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AUX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro – Brasilia – Belém
MSN:
6684
YOM:
1940
Location:
Salesópolis
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 0910LT on a cargo flight to Belém with intermediate stops at Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. About 40 minutes after takeoff, the three engine airplane crashed in flames in a field located about 10 km west of Salesópolis, 70 km east of Congonhas Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL off Rio de Janeiro: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1954 at 2007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CDJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo
MSN:
19278
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport at the end of the afternoon, bound for São Paulo-Congonhas Airport. While descending to Congonhas, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions and decided to return to Santos Dumont. While approaching Rio, the left engine suffered severe vibrations and was shut down and its propeller was feathered. As the aircraft was too high on approach, the crew elected to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. Six passengers were killed while 24 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled and crashed during an attempt to go around when the power on the remaining engine was inadvertently reduced by the flying crew. It was reported that the crew was devolved by the loss of power on the left engine during the approach and that he was forced to shot it down. When the aircraft stalled, the distance from the water surface was insufficient to expect a recovery. A lack of reference to instruments on part of the flying crew and a lack of visibility were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in São Paulo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1954 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
São Paulo – Porto Alegre
MSN:
30400
YOM:
1944
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and failed to adhere to the operator procedures. As the crew did not follow the pre-departure checklist, he failed to remove the elevator lock prior to takeoff.
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