Real Aerovias

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While descending to Curitiba-Afonso Pena Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation (technical problems) and decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field located in Campo Largo, about 40 km west of the Curitiba Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all 20 occupants escaped uninjured.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, carrying a load of frozen meat. The descent to Concórdia Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the airplane struck a hill and crashed 1,5 km short of runway threshold. All four crew members were killed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

En route, the right engine failed and the crew was forced to jettison some of the cargo to maintain a safe altitude. Eventually, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain located in the region of Cachimbo. The wreckage was found few hours later in the jungle and all 15 occupants were killed.

Convair CV-340

On approach to Galeão Airport in Rio, weather conditions worsened and the crew was instructed by ATC to follow a holding pattern. Heavy rain falls and foggy conditions prevailed at this time. Few minutes later, the crew attempted a second approach to Galeão Airport when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact and all 54 occupants were killed. Up to date, this was the worst air tragedy in Brazil.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The R4D-6 left Buenos Aires at 0825LT on a flight to Rio de Janeiro, carrying a delegation of musicians who would take part to a ceremony dedicated to the official visit in Rio de Janeiro of the US President Eisenhower. At 12:56 the crew reported over the BAGRE fix, entering the Rio Approach Control zone. The plane then descended to 1500 m reaching the Ilha Rasa (IH) NDB at 13:05. The crew were then instructed to arrive over the RJ NDB at 1800 m altitude and continue to the KX NDB descending to 1500 m. At the KX NDB the plane could enter the approach path for Galeao Airport. At 13:07 the flight reported passing over RJ at 1800 m, but the plane was in fact still approaching the NDB! False radio compass indications in the area are not uncommon; they are influenced by a steel cable car in the area. REAL DC-3 PP-AXD had left Campos at 12:10 for a flight to Rio de Janeiro. The flight reported at the Porto das Caixas fix at 12:58. at 1650 m. He was told to head for the RJ NDB at 1800 m and was later cleared for 1500 m to carry out the Victor Procedure for an approach to Santos Dumont Airport. The DC-3 overflew the RJ NDB at 13:06 at 1700 m. While carrying out the standard 180° turn to the left, the DC-3 was hit on its right side in an upward direction by the US Navy DC-6. The collision occurred at about 1600 m; the DC-3 crashed into the bay just southeast of Sugar Loaf Mountain; the DC-6 crashed into the bay just north of the mountain.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crash landed at Maringa Airport. There were no casualties.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

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.

Convair CV-440 Metropolitan

The aircraft was on a scheduled flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre, Montevideo (Carrasco) and Buenos Aires . Thirty passengers and five crew were aboard. At Porto Alegre the aircraft was refuelled and took off at 1917 hours for Montevideo with 1 471 gallons on board. It passed over Treinta y Tres at 2039 hours, flying at 2 400 metres, IFR. Over Minas the aircraft was cleared to descent to 1 200 metres and was instructed by the control centre to call back when 50 km out from the aerodrome. The flight again contacted the control centre from that point. The aircraft was transferred to aerodrome control and overflew the CAR radio beacon at 2115 hours, at 600 metres, visual. It carried out a visual approach procedure as the runway lights were clearly visible throughout. However, it undershot and the port and nose wheels hit a small earth bank bordering highway 102. It is considered that the aircraft was correctly aligned with the runway, or was perhaps making a slight left turn in order to correct a small deviation. The starboard wing touched ground some 2 metres further on. Some 170 metres further on the aircraft lost both propellers and the starboard engine. The starboard wing broke off causing the entire fuselage to effect a turn of 180° on its longitudinal axis. At the same time, unequal friction against the ground caused the body of the fuselage to skid to the right, turn on its vertical axis and come to rest 380 metres from impact. The slope, though slight, contributed to the downward movement of the aircraft. The accident occurred between 2119 and 2121 hours. One crew member was killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

On approach to Vitória da Conquista Airport, the crew lowered the gear. As it failed to lock, the captain decided to make a go-around, increased power on both engines and completed a low pass over the runway before joining the circuit. As he completed a turn to the left, the aircraft hit a telephone pole, stalled and crashed in flames near the airport. Four passengers and a crew member were killed while 16 other people were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The approach to Campo Grande Airport was started in poor weather conditions with low clouds, rain falls and turbulences. On final, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned and during the third attempt, the aircraft was too low, hit the ground and crashed in a field located 6 km short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft left Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport at 1810LT. About twenty minutes later, while flying along the shore, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Ubatubamirim. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found two days later. All 10 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft left São Paulo-Congonhas Airport in the morning on a flight to Londrina with an intermediate stop in Jacarezinho. En route, the on board ADF system failed and the captain (aged 23) decided to return to Congonhas. But the operations forced the crew to continue the flight. Few minutes later, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was very bad due to low clouds and heavy rain falls. While cruising at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the slope of the Serra dos Ruvina located near Ribeirão Claro. Two passengers, a woman and her kid aged 5 were rescued while all 20 other occupants were killed.