Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo

On April 2, 1978 at 09:20 PM, Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo, with the event recorded near São Paulo-Congonhas São Paulo.

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.

44 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 44 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 37, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration PP-SMX, MSN 20969, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -20.8056°, -49.4054°.