1 fatality

Aircraft Ditches in Rio Capim After Engine Failures; One Crew Member Drowned (PP-NMF)

Rio Capim, BrazilFlight

On August 16, 1964, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration PP-NMF) operated by VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo was involved in an aviation accident near Rio Capim, Brazil in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the left engine following the detachment of a propeller blade in flight. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

On a flight from Carolina to Belém-Va-de-Cans, the left engine failed and caught fire; the right engine later lost power. The crew jettisoned cargo and the captain ditched the aircraft in the Rio Capim. The aircraft sank after 15 minutes. Three crew members were rescued; one drowned.

Accident Sequence

The aircraft was en route from Carolina to Belém-Va-de-Cans Airport when the left engine failed. The engine caught fire and then exploded. The crew informed air traffic control about the situation. A few minutes later, the right engine lost power. The crew was forced to jettison some of the cargo. The captain elected to ditch the aircraft into the Rio Capim, which is located approximately 230 kilometers south of Belém.

Ditching and Rescue

The aircraft ditched in the river. It floated for about 15 minutes before sinking and being lost. Three of the four crew members were rescued. The fourth crew member drowned.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be the failure of the left engine following the detachment of a propeller blade in flight.