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5 fatalities

Cargo Flight Crash Off Aracruz (ZP-CBM)

Aracruz, BrazilFlight

On December 22, 1957, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration ZP-CBM) operated by Paraguay Air Services was involved in an aviation accident near Aracruz, Brazil in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It is believed the accident was the result of an act of sabotage because a certain quantity of hydrochloric acid was found in the fuel. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 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

A cargo aircraft crashed into the sea off Aracruz while flying from Asunción to Miami. All five occupants were killed. The official investigation attributed the accident to sabotage, citing hydrochloric acid found in the fuel.

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Asunción to Miami, with intermediate stops at Rio de Janeiro and Belém. It departed Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro at 1752 local time, heading northeast. While cruising along the shore, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Aracruz. All five occupants were killed. ## Cargo and Official Findings Reports indicated the aircraft was carrying 140 kg of platine and approximately 70 million US dollars in cash. The official investigation concluded that the accident was believed to be the result of an act of sabotage, as a certain quantity of hydrochloric acid was found in the fuel.

Probable cause

It is believed the accident was the result of an act of sabotage because a certain quantity of hydrochloric acid was found in the fuel.
Fuel exhaustion & starvation

Related events

Same operator

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