VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo

Boeing 737-200

Following an uneventful flight from Manaus, the crew started the descent to Rio Branco-Presidente Médici Airport runway 06 in marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to fog. After passing the MDA at 1,150 feet, the crew continued the approach with an excessive rate of descent of 1,222 feet per minute. At a height of 57 feet, the aircraft struck trees located 360 metres short of runway 06 threshold. The engines lost power, the aircraft lost speed and height then struck the ground about 100 metres short of runway. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on a distance of 600 metres before coming to rest. All 95 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Boeing 737-200

Following a night takeoff from São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport, en route to Buenos Aires, the captain informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft landed at a speed of 185 knots with flaps down to 15° on wet runway 09L. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 200 metres further. All 128 occupants were evacuated safely, among them two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Boeing 737-200

While descending to Cruzeiro do Sul Airport by night and good weather conditions, the crew encountered problems with the intermittent activation of a warning light in the instrument panel, warning them of a fire in the cargo compartment. On final approach, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a dense wooded area located in hilly terrain. The wreckage was found 15 km from runway 10 threshold and all three occupants were killed.

Boeing 737-200

The crew left the apron and taxied to the runway threshold for takeoff on a regular schedule service VP210 to Belo Horizonte. Due to foggy conditions, the visibility was nil and the crew mistakenly lined up on the 'threshold' of the taxiway instead of the runway. Unaware of the wrong position of the aircraft, the crew was cleared for takeoff by ATC and started the takeoff procedure. After few seconds, the captain realize the situation and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck an embankment and came to rest, broken in two. A passenger was killed, 20 other occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Boeing 737-200

The crew (one pilot and one instructor) was engaged in a local training flight at Manaus-Eduardo Gomes Airport. After a simulated asymmetrical power takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient height. The crew increased engine power but the airplane stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few km from the airfield, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed. It is believed that the aircraft was on its way to São Paulo Airport, carrying a load of televisions.

Boeing 727-200

Following an uneventful flight from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport, the crew initiated a night descent to Fortaleza-Pinto Martins Airport, Ceará. ATC cleared the flight to descent to 5,000 feet and while facing the city lights, the captain descended below the prescribed altitude of 5,000 feet. Despite two altitude alert system warnings and the copilot's warning about mountains ahead, the captain continued to descend until the aircraft struck a wooded mountain located in the Aratanha Mountain Range, some 26 km southwest of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 137 occupants were killed.

Boeing 737-200

The approach to Brasília was initiated in poor visibility due to rain falls. On short final, the crew failed to realize that the aircraft attitude was wrong. In a nose-down attitude, the aircraft landed hard, causing the nose gear to collapse. The airplane went out of control, veered of runway and came to rest, broken in two. Two passengers were killed, 20 occupants were injured and 96 others escaped uninjured.

Boeing 737-200

The airplane departed Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport at 2015LT on flight VP005 to São Paulo. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was unable to lower the undercarriage and decided to complete a belly landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane slid for few hundred meters before coming to rest in flames onto the runway. All 44 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante

Shortly after takeoff from runway 34 at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the crew reported problems with the right engine and attempted to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto several houses located in the district of Campo Belo near the airport. The aircraft and four houses were totally destroyed and all 15 occupants were killed. There were no victims on the ground.

NAMC YS-11

During the takeoff roll at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, about 8 knots below V1 speed, the captain noticed a loss of power on both engines while the turbine temperature was at its maximum. In such situation, the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure and applied brakes. It appears the aircraft failed to decelerate properly so the crew activated the emergency brakes that were effectives on the right main gear only. As the end of the runway was approaching, the captain retracted the undercarriage so the airplane sank on its belly and slid before coming to rest into the Guanabara Bay. The aircraft sank about 10 minutes later and was lost. Eight passengers were killed while 57 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously.

Vickers Viscount

The approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport was completed in heavy rain falls. After touchdown on a wet runway, the airplane skidded then veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed upon landing at Rondonópolis Airport in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

NAMC YS-11

Following an uneventful flight from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew started the descent to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport from the north. While flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet by night and in marginal weather conditions, the crew informed ATC he just passed over AF NDB. Two minutes later, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Petrópolis, about 50 km north of Santos Dumont Airport. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 25 occupants were killed.

NAMC YS-11

After landing at Aragarças Airport, the pilot-in-command started the braking procedure when he saw the presence of another airplane on the runway. He veered off runway to the right, causing the airplane to stop in a grassy area. All occupants evacuated safely and there were no injuries. The following night, two men were dispatched to guard the aircraft. A candle was lit inside the plane, causing a fire. The cabin burned out, killing both guards.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The airplane departed Londrina Airport at 1833LT on the last leg to São Paulo-Congonhas Airport on a flight from Campo Grande to São Paulo. About 50 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to shut down the left engine and to feather its propeller. The captain was then cleared to return to Londrina for a safe landing as an emergency landing at Ourinhos Airport was not possible as it was not lighted at night. On final approach to runway 12 at Londrina Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames less than two km from the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from his injuries.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

The nose gear collapsed upon landing at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão and the airplane came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crash landed at Loanda Airport in unclear circumstances. No casualties.

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Belly landed at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, slid for few dozen meters and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Vickers Viscount

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport and was completing touch-and-go manoeuvres. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a district located 7,450 meters from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both pilots were killed as well as one people on the ground. At the time of the accident, the crew was climbing with one engine inoperative, maybe two.

Vickers Viscount

The crew was completing a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. After touchdown, the four engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

On final approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport, the left engine oil temperature increased and the crew was forced to reduce its power when the airplane stalled on final and crashed in an open field. All 54 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Vickers Viscount

The crew was completing a local training flight at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. On final approach, the instructor voluntarily shut down the engine number four to simulate a failure. Simultaneously, the pilot under training lost control of the airplane that stalled and struck the runway surface. After impact, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. While all four crew members were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Vickers Viscount

The Viscount took off from Vitoria at 18:45 GMT and climbed to 1800 m. At 19:33 the crew reported over Rio Bonito at 1800 m in instrument meteorological conditions. Actually, the flight was over Nova Friburgo, 43 km from Rio Bonito. The aircraft collided with the west slope of the Pico da Caledônia (2255 m) at an elevation of about 1950 m (6400 ft). VASP Flight 141 was a scheduled service from Recife, Brazil to São Paulo, Brazil with intermediate stops at Vitória and Rio de Janeiro. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 39 occupants have been killed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

En route from Carolina to Belém-Va-de-Cans Airport, the left engine failed, caught fire then exploded. The crew informed ATC about his situation when few minutes later, the right engine lost power. The crew was forced to jettison few of the cargo and the captain elected to ditch the aircraft into the Rio Capim, some 230 km south of Belém. The aircraft floated about 15 minutes then sank and was lost. Three crew members were rescued while the fourth drowned.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was completing a local training mission at Brasília Airport. On final approach, the instructor simulated an emergency landing with the right engine at reduced power. The airplane stalled and struck the ground short of runway threshold and bounced. As the left engine failed to respond properly, the airplane stalled and crashed. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was involved in a local training in the São Paulo area. Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while climbing, the airplane apparently exploded and crashed near a highway located few km south of Embu. All three crew members were killed. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The crew departed Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport on a local training flight to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the crew informed ATC that the right engine caught fire and received the permission to return for an emergency landing. Unable to extinguish the fire, the crew feathered the propeller and reduced his altitude when the right wing, on fire, detached. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Saab Scandia

The crew was completing a local training flight at Londrina Airport. The touchdown was hard and the airplane struck the runway surface quite hardly and bounced several times before landing properly. After landing, the airplane stopped on runway and was later considered as damaged beyond repair due to structural damages.

Saab Scandia

The Scandia aircraft was flying a scheduled domestic service from Congonhas Airport (São Paulo) to Santos Dumont (Rio de Janeiro). It left Congonhas at 1144 GMT on an instrument flight plan and was flying Airway AB-6 at the approved cruising altitude of 2,400 m. Five crew and 18 passengers were aboard. The flight advised of its progress en route and at 1203 hours was abeam São José dos Campos, estimating Ubatuba at 1214 hours. When it did not report Ubatuba as expected, an alert message was sent at 1242 hours. The Cessna had taken off from Santos Dumont at 1111 GMT en route to Campo de Marte in São Paulo. It was flying the same airway in the opposite direction on a VFR flight plan and carried 4 persons. Following its last contact with Santos Dumont it did not report its position. The alert phase was declared at 1251 hours, thirty minutes after its estimated time of arrival at Campo de Marte. It was learned later by the Inquiry that the sound of the two aircraft collided was heard, and eye witnesses saw them fall, at approximately 1209 hours.

Saab Scandia

Few minutes after takeoff from Campinas-Viracopos Airport, the crew informed ATC about an in-flight fire and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. After touchdown on runway 10, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck construction vehicles and came to rest in a construction zone. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Vickers Viscount

While approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport in good weather conditions, the Viscount collided with a Brazilian Air Force Fokker T-21 (S.11) registered 0742. Its pilot was completing a local training flight when the collision occurred about 4 km south of the airfield. While the pilot of the trainer plane was able to eject and was later recovered uninjured, his aircraft crashed in Joaquim de Queiroz street. Out of control, the Viscount dove into the ground and crashed in the Peçanha Póvoas street, in the district of Ramos. Several houses were destroyed and all 32 occupants on board the Viscount were killed as well as 10 people on the ground.

Saab Scandia

Shortly after takeoff by night, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height and struck power cables. It stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 4,5 km from the airport. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed.

Saab Scandia

Shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing to a height of 50 meters, the left engine failed. The crew completed a turn to the left, continued for about 500 meters and then made a second turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the Guanabara Bay. All four crew members and 17 passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Junkers JU.52

The aircraft departed São Paulo-Congonhas Airport at 0910LT on a cargo flight to Belém with intermediate stops at Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. About 40 minutes after takeoff, the three engine airplane crashed in flames in a field located about 10 km west of Salesópolis, 70 km east of Congonhas Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, while in initial climb, the left engine suffered vibrations. The crew shot down the engine and feathered the propeller before making a turn to fly back to the airport. Shortly later, the right engine suffered technical issues as well and when the pilot lowered the gear, the aircraft lost height, hit obstacles and crashed near a soccer field. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while 18 other occupants were injured, some of them seriously. Few hours later, one of the survivors died from his injuries.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot-in-command encountered problems and lost control of the aircraft that crashed onto several houses located in the Jabaquara neighborhood. On ground, someone decided to light candles in order to get more light when the fuel that flowed to the ground ignited. Few explosions occurred, killing all ten occupants inside the aircraft and six people on the ground.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew started the descent to Presidente Prudente Airport by night and in poor weather conditions when the airplane hit a hill and crashed about 8 km from Rancheria. All seven occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Ribeirão Preto Airport, en route to São Paulo-Congonhas, the aircraft suffered a left engine failure. The pilot in command reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed in flames in a wasteland near the airport. A passenger was killed and a second was seriously injured while 18 other occupants were evacuated safely. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

During the takeoff roll, the left engine failed. Due to an asymmetric thrust, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a house with a bar. All 31 occupants were evacuated, some of them suffered minor injuries. Unfortunately, three people in the bar were killed. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and was later dismantled.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

During the takeoff roll, the right engine failed. The pilot in command lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and collided with an earth bank. The left engine was sheared off and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All 24 occupants were rescued, among them three were slightly injured.

Junkers JU.52

Less than one minute after take off from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while in initial climb, the three-engine aircraft hit the roof of the Naval Academy. On impact, the aircraft broke in two, one part left in the building and the second one came to rest in the Guanabara Bay. Three passengers were injured while all 18 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to foggy conditions over Rio. Crew: Romeu Fávero, pilot 3. Passengers: Attilio Corrêa Lima, Cásper Líbero, José Gaspar d'Afonseca e Silva, Alberto Teixiera Pequeno, Nelson Norberto de Sousa Vieira 12.

Junkers JU.52

Shortly after its departure from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, while climbing in clouds to an altitude of some 1,500 feet, the three engine aircraft christened 'Cidade de Santos' collided with a De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly. Registered LV-KAB, it was owned by the Shell-Mex Company of Argentina and the pilot, sole aboard, was starting the approach. After the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Botafogo Bay, killing all 19 occupants.