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Amazonas

Crash of a De Havilland C-115 Buffalo at Ponta Pelada AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2372
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ponta Pelada - Ponta Pelada
MSN:
42
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Ponta Pelada AFB when the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances while initiating an approach. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated CA-10A-1 Catalina near Humaitá: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1972 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Humaitá - Manaus
MSN:
1917
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Humaitá to Manaus, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a wooded area (jungle) located about 80 km northeast of Humaitá. A passenger and a crew member were killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure apparently caused by a faulty fuel supply system.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B at Ponta Pelada AFB

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HP-539
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Panama City – Manaus – São Paulo
MSN:
43526/241
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On an ILS approach to Ponta Pelada AFB on a cargo flight from Panama City to São Paulo, the airplane was not properly aligned and was too high on the glide. The captain overcorrected, causing the airplane to adopt a high sink rate. In a nose-down attitude, the nose gear struck a concrete wall located 12 meters short of runway threshold and was torn off. The airplane landed on its nose and slid for about 300 meters before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Douglas C-118B at Ponta Pelada AFB: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2414
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manaus - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
43746
YOM:
1952
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus for Rio de Janeiro, carrying Brazilian soldiers and their family members. About 20 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems with one of the right engine and decided to return to Manaus for a safe landing. After touchdown, one of the right engine caught fire and exploded. The pilot-in-command stopped the airplane that was on fire. 36 occupants evacuated safely and were unhurt while 33 others were wounded. 16 occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
PP-CBZ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11767
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Santa Isabel do Rio Negro-Tapuruquara Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Manaus

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1969 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N5133B
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Andrés - Ponta Pelada
MSN:
26988
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6362
Captain / Total hours on type:
612.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus following a cargo flight from San Andrés Island, Colombia, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to land immediately. Eventually, the crew ditched the aircraft in the Río Negro located few km short of runway. While both pilots were rescued, the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The crew was forced to ditch the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion on final approach to Manaus.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A off Canutama: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1968 at 1405 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PP-PCW
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
CV-429
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Upon landing on the Rio Purus off Canutama, the seaplane was apparently in a wrong attitude, nosed down and came to rest partially submerged. Four passengers were killed while 10 other occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK near Coari: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1967 at 0500 LT
Operator:
Registration:
2068
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Belém – Jacareacanga – Cachimbo
MSN:
17020/34284
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Belém to Cachimbo Airport, Novo Progresso, with an intermediate stop in Jacareacanga. During the second leg, the crew informed ground he encountered technical problems with the radiocompas and was cleared to return to Jacareacanga. By night and due to the lack of points of reference on the ground, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to locate the Jacareacanga Airport. Later, the captain informed ground he try to divert to Manaus but he was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion. The airplane struck trees, stalled and eventually crashed in a swampy area located in the region of Coari. As the airplane failed to arrive at Cachimbo Airport, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found 10 days later in an isolated area. Five occupants were found alive while 20 others were killed.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to a fuel exhaustion caused by a radiocompas failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-367 in Carauari

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AJE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manaus – Tefé – Carauari – Cruzeiro do Sul
MSN:
3288
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged on a passenger service from Manaus to Cruzeiro do Sul with intermediate stops at Tefé and Carauari. The captain, although not qualified to do so, decided to use the flight for training purposes especially with regard to the landing drill. The co-pilot, under training, made the landing at Carauari, and during the ground roll the aircraft veered off the runway. The Captain took over control and attempted to overshoot but the aircraft collided with trees and caught fire. All passengers and crew evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Incorrect training procedure. Captain not qualified for training.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar at Ponta Pelada AFB

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
PT-BIS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2405
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.