Panair do Brasil

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

While approaching Portel, the crew encountered strong cross winds. The airplane struck the water surface and on impact, the windshield was sheared off. Water came into the cockpit and the cabin and the airplane partially sank. All occupants were evacuated safely.

Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle

The Caravelle was operating on a flight from Salvador to Recife and was cruising at 8700 m in VMC. The flight contacted Recife Control over Maceio and received clearance to descend to 6150 m. Recife Approached later cleared the aircraft for 900 m and informed the crew about another aircraft descending from 900 to 600 m on the same direction in IMC. When descending through 1800 m the crew were surprised by the lights of another aircraft. To avoid possible collision the Caravelle was brusquely manouevred upwards. Landing at Recife-Guarapes at 22:09 was normal. After returning to Rio de Janeiro-Galeao, the aircraft was thoroughly inspected by Panair maintenance. It appeared the plane had suffered serious damage to the structure, rendering the aircraft damaged beyond repair.

Douglas DC-7

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. During the takeoff roll, just after V1 speed, the nose gear retracted. The aircraft sank on its belly, lost its both engines number two and three and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All seven crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

The Panair Constellation departed Belém at 02:31 GMT for a 3-hour flight to Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport. The plane followed the Amber 1 airway and contacted Manaus at 05:04, reporting six minutes out. At 05:19 the flight crew asked Manaus whether the plane's engines could be heard. Manaus replied negative and asked the reason for the question. Nothing more was heard from the flight, which appeared to have crashed 45 km from Manaus. The Constellation named 'Estevao Ribeiro Baiao Parente' was completely destroyed and all 50 occupants were killed.

Douglas DC-8

The aircraft was on a scheduled international flight from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro (Galeao Airport) and Lisbon. It arrived at Galeao Airport following an uneventful flight. Another crew took over for the last segment of the flight. The takeoff run began at 2303 hours GMT from runway 14. The aircraft's acceleration appeared to be normal. The pilot-in-command declared that, at a speed between 100 and 135 kt (V1), he noted that the control column was too far back and pushed it forward. At this point the co-pilot released the controls, which is normally done when the aircraft reaches V1. It is believed that in fact an attempt to rotate the aircraft was made around 132 kt. The aircraft continued to accelerate normally. The co-pilot announced 148 kt, the rotation speed (VR), and the pilot pulled back on the control column. However, the aircraft did not respond, so he pushed it forward again. No indication of this rotation attempt was revealed by the flight recorder reading. He and the co-pilot then pulled back on the control column, however, the nose of the aircraft did not rotate since the pilot had already reduced power 14 seconds after reaching VR. Also, the tape reading indicated that the brakes were used for 5 seconds prior to any power reduction. The first marks of braking were found approximately 2300 m from the threshold. The pilot realized that the aircraft could not be stopped on the remaining portion of the runway so he turned the aircraft off the runway to the right and fully reduced power. The brakes were applied but not reverse thrust. Heavy and steady braking marks started 2600 m from the threshold. Of his own accord, the co-pilot applied full power for reversion and tried to operate the spoilers but could not do so because of the bumps The right wing lowered, dragging engines No. 3 and 4. The left wheels of the landing gear sank into the sand, and engines No. 1 and 2 also began to drag. All four engines lost their ejectors and reversion cones, causing the aircraft to accelerate. It continued moving at a high speed, hit the airport wall, crossed the adjoining highway, lost engines No. 1 and 2 and the left landing gear and finally came to rest in the sea. 50 m from shore. It drifted 100 m while floating and then sank to a depth of 8 m. There were no lights on board the aircraft when it came to a stop as the automatic emergency lighting system did not function. One cabin attendant used one of the two flashlights available. The darkness increased the panic and confusion. The passengers could not use the main door as an exit because it would open into the sea. They did not know where the emergency exits were. However, the exits were then opened and most of the passengers left the aircraft on the starboard side. The fact that the lour exits were all in the central part of the fuselage hampered the evacuation as the number of passengers (94) was considerable. The crew left the aircraft via the cockpit windows. No instructions had been given on emergency procedures and therefore the passengers and most of the crew did not take their life jackets with them when leaving the aircraft. Although the aircraft was equipped with six life rafts no crew member tried to use them. The aircraft drifted 330 feet downstream and submerged in 25 minutes. A crew member and 14 passengers were killed, 46 occupants were wounded and 44 were uninjured.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

The crew encountered technical problems while approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport and was unable to lower the nose gear. The landing procedure was completed with the nose gear retracted and the airplane slid on its nose for dozen yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Douglas DC-7

The aircraft, coming from Lisbon, Portugal with a stop at Ilha do Sal, contacted Recife Control Tower at 0505Z. While flying at night in good visibility the flight received instructions for landing and was to call again on the "wind leg". Reporting as requested, authorization for landing was given, and the aircraft was asked to notify when on "final". Thirty seconds thereafter it collided with high (84 m) ground to the right of the centreline of the runway in use, 2 720 m from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. Thirty-eight passengers and 7 crew members were killed while 43 other occupants were injured.

Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Manaus to Belém, carrying a load of dangerous goods. The airplane caught fire in flight and the captain reduced his altitude and performed an emergency landing on Rio Amazonas off Parintins. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Douglas DC-7

An hour after his departure from Manaus-Ponta Pelada Airport, the captain informed ATC that the primary hydraulic system failed. He was able to continue the flight and to complete a normal landing at Belém-Val de Cans Airport. After touchdown, when the reverse thrust systems were applied, the crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the right. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest into a ravine. There were no injuries among the occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

Following a wrong approach configuration, the four engine aircraft christened 'Domingos Dias Prado' landed too far down the runway. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and eventually crashed into a ravine. All 59 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

While landing on the Amazone River off Parintins, the seaplane hit a submerged object, came to a halt and partially sank. Nine occupants were rescued while three others were killed, among them the pilot Luís Anet and the radio operator.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from London to Buenos Aires with stops at Paris, Lisbon, Dakar, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Asunción, carrying 14 passengers and 10 crew. At 0105LT the Constellation called the Asunción control tower who cleared the flight to land on Runway 02 and requested the aircraft to call when on final approach. The last contact with the flight was made at 0115LT. From that time on a control tower employee reported the aircraft moved towards the south-southwest. He tried to sight it and noted that it headed towards the city, made a turn to the left and appeared to initiate its final straight-in approach. When sufficient time for a landing had elapsed the employee called attention to the lack of communication between the aircraft and the control tower. He continued to look out to the south where the aircraft would have appeared and saw a sudden burst of flame near the Paraguay Aero Club, south of the airport. Five passengers and three crew members survived. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire which broke out immediately after impact.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

The approach to Congonhas Airport was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was too low and hit trees before crashing in flames in a wooded area located 6,5 km short of runway 34, in the district of Americanópolis. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 17 occupants were killed.

Douglas DC-3

On final approach to Uberlândia Airport, the airplane was too low and hit trees with its left wing, stalled and crashed. Six passengers and three crew members were killed while 22 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Lockheed L-049 Constellation

A first approach to Porto Alegre was abandoned due to poor weather conditions. The crew followed a circuit vertical to the city and eventually informed ATC that his fuel reserve was low. During a second attempt to land, while approaching in VFR mode in low visibility, the four engine aircraft was too low when it hit power cables and crashed in flames on the slope of a 200 meters hill located about 15 km from the runway threshold. All 51 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the pilot in command was trying to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

Sikorsky S-43

Enroute to Manaus, the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Rio Solimões off São Paulo de Olivença. Eleven occupants were killed while three passengers were injured.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

The crew was forced to make an emergency landing in Catanduva four days prior to the accident, while flying in stormy weather. The aircraft was repaired but crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Douglas DC-3

The airport of Belo Horizonte-Pampulha was closed all day to traffic due to heavy rain falls and reopened in the afternoon. About thirty minutes into the flight, bound for Santos Dumont Airfield in Rio de Janeiro, the crew encountered poor visibility with a low cloud base. While flying at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Rio Doce, killing all 25 occupants.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

En route, the right engine failed, forcing the crew to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Eventually, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near Rio Doce. All 18 occupants were killed.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

On final approach to Congonhas Airport, the crew was disturbed by the poor visibility caused by night and foggy conditions. The twin engine aircraft crashed in a huge explosion few hundred meters short of runway and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. All 18 occupants were killed.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

While approaching Sao Paulo from the north, the crew was informed by ATC that weather conditions at destination were poor. Few minutes later, while cruising at a too low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Pedra Branca. All 15 occupants were killed.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

During the take off run, an undercarriage broke. A wing contacted the runway surface, causing a fuel tank to rupture. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While the twin engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

On approach to Sao Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew was forced to make a go around for undetermined reasons. While circling for a new approach, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south and hit the slope of a mountain located in the Cantareira Mountain Range, some 24 km south of the airport. Six occupants were rescued while eight others were killed.

Stinson SR-10 Reliant

The crew was completing a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport when he was forced to ditch the aircraft in the Guanabara Bay. Both pilots were rescued.

Sikorsky S-43

After takeoff from Salvador, the seaplane went out of control and crashed inverted into the Bay of Salvador. All 17 occupants were rescued, among them three passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Sikorsky S-38

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well. The exact date of the accident remains unknown.

Sikorsky S-43

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown as well.

Sikorsky S-38

While parked in the hangar of the company, the float plane was stolen by three men who took a fourth people as an hostage. Few minutes after takeoff, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in São João de Meriti, in the suburb of Rio de Janeiro, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. Brazilian authorities stated that the hijack took place during the Constitutional Revolution.