3 fatalities

Aircraft crash in Guanabara Bay following takeoff from Rio de Janeiro (2067)

Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, BrazilTakeoff (climb)

On December 6, 1961, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 2067) operated by Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira (1941-) was involved in an aviation accident near Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil during takeoff. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during its initial climb from the runway. 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

A small aircraft crashed into Guanabara Bay shortly after departing Santos Dumont Airport, resulting in the deaths of all three people on board.

What happened

On the day of the accident, an aircraft departed from the Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumونت Airport. During the initial climb phase, while the plane had reached an altitude of approximately 30 meters, it experienced a loss of airspeed and entered a stall.

Following the stall, the aircraft descended rapidly and impacted the surface of Guanabara Bay. The crash site was located roughly 800 meters beyond the end of the runway. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and three fatalities among the crew members on board.

Findings

  • The aircraft entered a stall during the climb phase.
  • The accident occurred at a very low altitude of 30 meters.
  • All three crew members perished in the crash.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during its initial climb from the runway.