Rio Grande do Norte | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After take off from Natal-Parnamirim Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, some 1,2 km past the runway end. Both pilots were killed while all three passengers were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Natal: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944 at 1252 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

46520

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Belém - Recife

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a flight from Belém to Recife with a crew of ten on board, among them an officer. While flying some 65 km west of Natal in poor weather conditions, the crew made his last radio contact at 1252LT. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a pasture, killing all ten occupants. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were as follow: rain falls, cloudy with cumulus till 9,000 feet , stratus till 10,000 feet and wind from 150 degrees at 10 knots.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Açu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944 at 1302 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KG508

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Belém - Natal

MSN:

12912

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Belém at 0620LT bound for Natal with an ETA at 1338LT. While cruising overt the State of Rio Grande do Norte in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located 13 km east of Açu. All three occupants based at RAF Nassau, Bahamas, were killed. At the time of the accident, meteorological conditions were as follow: stratus, cumulus, turbulence and heavy rain falls.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-10-DO Havoc at Parnamirim AFB

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

42-33380

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6842

YOM:

1941

Location:

Parnamirim AFB (Natal)

Rio Grande do Norte

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances at Parnamirim AFB. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24F-30-BO Liberator in Natal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-40091

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1168

YOM:

1943

Location:

Parnamirim AFB (Natal)

Rio Grande do Norte

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on approach to Parnamirim AFB, Natal, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km west of the airfield. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin A-30 Baltimore in Pirangi do Norte: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin 187 Baltimore

Operator:

Registration:

41-27693

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3798

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Pirangi do Norte and was destroyed. At least one crew member was killed. It was en route to Europe to be delivered to the Royal Air Force and should be registered FA111.
Crew:
2nd Lt Wiley J. Croswell.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Natal

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

41-7418

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

7418

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was on a delivery flight to the Royal Air Force contingent in Africa and was supposed to be registered FK140. On approach to Natal Airport, it suffered an engine failure and crashed. Crew fate unknown.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Maxaranguape: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1942 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

7252

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Norfolk - Belém - Natal

MSN:

412

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed NAS Norfolk, Virginia, to ferry the airplane to NAS Natal, Brasil. En route from Belém and approaching the destination, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls. In zero visibility, while flying low, the airplane impacted the water surface and crashed into the sea some 8 km off Maxaranguape, north of Natal. Seven crew members were killed and three others were rescued 18 hours later.
Crew killed were:
Ltjg C. H. Skidmore,
Ens Sherman F. Dixon,
Ens John A. Madden,
John Albert Overburg,
Julian Almer Storkson,
Rudolph F. Jordan,
Charles Andrew Hladilek.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the airplane was caught by downdrafts and crashed into the sea.