Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo
Flight / Schedule
Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
PP-VBV
MSN
15444/26889
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
VARIG - Viação Aérea Rio GrandenseDate
July 1, 1963 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Passo Fundo Rio Grande do Sul
Region
South America • Brazil
Coordinates
-28.6466°, -53.6054°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On July 1, 1963 at 12:00 AM, Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by VARIG - Viação Aérea Rio Grandense, with the event recorded near Passo Fundo Rio Grande do Sul.
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.
18 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 13, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Passo Fundo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. On final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 13 passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Aircraft reference details include registration PP-VBV, MSN 15444/26889, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -28.6466°, -53.6054°.
Fatalities
Total
15
Crew
2
Passengers
13
Other
0
Crash Summary
On approach to Passo Fundo Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility. On final, the aircraft was too low, struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 13 passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
15
Estimated Survivors
3
Fatality Rate
83.3%
Known people on board: 18
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Porto Alegre – Passo Fundo
Operator
VARIG - Viação Aérea Rio GrandenseFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
South America • Brazil
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Brazilian Navy - Aviação Naval Brasileira
Macchi M.9
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a training flight when the seaplane crashed in the Bay of Guanabara off Rio de Janeiro. The pilot 2nd Lt Jayme Americano Freire was killed.
Brazilian Navy - Aviação Naval Brasileira
Aeromarine 40
The crew was completing a local training flight in Rio de Janeiro when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Guanabara Bay. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft sank. Six days later, one of the crew member died from his injuries. Crew: 1st Lt Fernando Muniz Guimarães, † Lt Fernando Victor Amaral Savaget.
Junkers Flugzeug %26 Motorenwerke
Junkers F.13
The crew was conducting flights in South America to promote the sale of the Junkers F.13 to local operators. The aircraft departed Albina Airport, Suriname, bound to Macapá, Brazil. Just after passing the border between French Guyana and Brazil, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and elected to make an emergency landing on the Oiapoque River, near Oiapoque. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed in the river and was damaged beyond repair. While the pilot Drewsky was injured, the mechanic Thill was killed.
Brazilian Air Force - Aviação Militar
Breguet 14
The aircraft crashed on landing, injuring both crew members, Lt Arnoldo Borges Leitão and Lt Adyr Guimarães.
Junkers Flugzeug %26 Motorenwerke
Junkers F.13
The crew was performing demo flights in South America to promote the sale of the Junkers F.13 to potential local operators. Shortly after takeoff from the Rio Jaguaribe, in Aracati, while in initial climb, the seaplane stalled and crashed, killing both crew members, the pilot Hermann Müller and the mechanic Werner Junkers. Named 'Birkhahn', the aircraft suffered an engine failure just after takeoff.
Brazilian Air Force - Aviação Militar
Breguet 14
The crew was completing a local training mission at Campo dos Afonsos AFB when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. A crew member was seriously injured and both other occupants were killed.