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.