No fatalities

Aircraft crash near Recife following fuel depletion (51-11846)

Recife, BrazilFlight

On October 7, 1954, a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor (registration 51-11846) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Recife, Brazil in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft ran out of fuel while in flight, leading to the crew's decision to abandon the plane. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed northwest of Recife after the crew abandoned the plane due to running out of fuel.

What happened

During a flight near Recife, the crew encountered a critical shortage of fuel. After determining that the engines could no longer be sustained, the occupants elected to exit the aircraft via bailout. Following the departure of the crew, the aircraft type descended rapidly and struck the ground approximately 19 km northwest of Recife.

The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. Despite the severity of the crash, both pilots survived the incident with zero fatalities and no reported injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary reason for the emergency was fuel exhaustion during the flight.

Probable cause

The aircraft ran out of fuel while in flight, leading to the crew's decision to abandon the plane.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 7 Oct 1954 Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor accident near Recife, Brazil?

An aircraft crashed northwest of Recife after the crew abandoned the plane due to running out of fuel.

Were there any fatalities in the 7 Oct 1954 Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 7 Oct 1954 involved a Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, registration 51-11846, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Recife, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft ran out of fuel while in flight, leading to the crew's decision to abandon the plane.