The 1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision was an aerial collision between two aircraft over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 25, 1960. A United States Navy Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A) (BuNo 131582) flying from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Air Force Base collided over Guanabara Bay, close to the Sugarloaf Mountain, with a Real Transportes Aéreos Douglas DC-3, registration PP-AXD, operating flight 751 from Campos dos Goytacazes to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. The crash occurred at 16:10 local time at an altitude of 1,600 meters (5,249 feet).[1][2][3][4]
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | February 25, 1960 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision |
| Site | Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Total fatalities | 61 |
| Total survivors | 3 |
| First aircraft | |
 A U.S. Navy Douglas R6D-1 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Type | Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A) |
| Operator | United States Navy |
| Registration | 131582 |
| Flight origin | Buenos Aires-Ezeiza |
| Destination | Galeão Air Force Base |
| Occupants | 38 |
| Passengers | 31 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 35 |
| Survivors | 3 |
| Second aircraft | |
 A Douglas DC-3 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Type | Douglas DC-3 |
| Operator | Real Transportes Aéreos |
| Registration | PP-AXD |
| Flight origin | Campos dos Goytacazes |
| Destination | Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport |
| Occupants | 26 |
| Passengers | 23 |
| Crew | 3 |
| Fatalities | 26 |
| Survivors | 0 |
The US Navy aircraft was carrying members of the United States Navy Band to Brazil to perform at a diplomatic reception attended by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Of the 38 occupants of the American aircraft, 3 survived. All 26 passengers and crew of the Brazilian aircraft died. The probable causes of the accident are disputed, but include human error, both air and ground, and faulty equipment.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Accident description 131582". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ "Accident description PP-AXD". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
- ^ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Torre de Babel". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 182–186. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
- ^ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve história da aviação comercial brasileira (in Portuguese). Europa. p. 286.
- ^ Ruane, Michael E. (February 26, 2010). "Friends, Musicians Honor Victims Of 1960 Navy Band Crash". The Washington Post. p. B1. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
- ^ Eisenhower's Tour of Latin America, 61 Die in Air Crash. World News Digest. March 2, 1960.
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