São Paulo – Porto Alegre – Montevideo – Buenos Aires

On September 18, 1957 at 09:20 PM, São Paulo – Porto Alegre – Montevideo – Buenos Aires experienced a crash involving Convair CV-440 Metropolitan, operated by Real Aerovias, with the event recorded near Montevideo-Carrasco Montevideo City District.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

35 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 34 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 2.9%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 30, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration PP-AQE, MSN 456, year of manufacture 1957.