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22 fatalities

In-flight fire leads to fatal crash in Brazil (04973)

Brazil, BrazilFlight

On November 27, 1944, a Consolidated PBY Catalina (registration 04973) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Brazil, Brazil in flight. 22 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An uncontrollable in-flight fire rendered the aircraft inoperable, leading to a crash with no survivors. 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 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft suffered a catastrophic in-flight fire while operating over Brazilian airspace, resulting in the loss of all 22 people on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during an active flight phase within the national boundaries of Brazil. The aircraft experienced a severe fire event that originated while the machine was airborne. This rapid deterioration of the situation prevented any successful emergency landing or diversion. Consequently, the aircraft crashed into the terrain below. The impact and the preceding fire resulted in the total loss of life for everyone on board. There were no survivors among the 22 occupants who were present at the time of the accident.

Findings

The primary immediate cause of the disaster was identified as an uncontrolled in-flight fire. This event compromised the structural integrity and flight control systems of the aircraft to a degree that made recovery impossible. The severity of the fire during the critical phase of flight led directly to the fatal outcome for all personnel and passengers.

Probable cause

An uncontrollable in-flight fire rendered the aircraft inoperable, leading to a crash with no survivors.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 27 Nov 1944 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident near Brazil, Brazil?

An aircraft suffered a catastrophic in-flight fire while operating over Brazilian airspace, resulting in the loss of all 22 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 27 Nov 1944 Consolidated PBY Catalina accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 22 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 27 Nov 1944 involved a Consolidated PBY Catalina, registration 04973, operated by United States Navy - USN, at Brazil, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An uncontrollable in-flight fire rendered the aircraft inoperable, leading to a crash with no survivors.

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