What happened
On the day of the accident, a US Navy DC-6 departed Buenos Aires at 08:25 local time, traveling toward Rio de Janeiro. The aircraft was transporting a group of musicians intended for a ceremony celebrating the official visit of US President Eisenhower to Brazil. At approximately 12:56, the flight crew notified controllers they had entered the Rio Approach Control zone near the BAGRE fix. Following instructions, the aircraft descended to 1500 meters as it reached the Ilha Rasa NDB. The crew was subsequently directed to fly over the RJ NDB at an altitude of 1800 meters before proceeding toward the KX NDB.
Simultaneously, a DC-3 with registration PP-AXD departed Campos at 12:10, also bound for Rio de Janeiro. This aircraft passed the Porto das Caixas fix at 12:58 at an altitude of 1650 meters and was cleared to follow the Victor Procedure for an approach to Santos Dumont Airport via the RJ NDB.
At roughly 13:06, the PP-AXD passed over the RJ NDB at 1700 meters. While the aircraft was performing a standard 180-degree left turn, it was struck on its right side by the ascending DC-6. The impact occurred at an altitude of approximately 1600 meters. Following the collision, the DC-3 plummeted into the bay southeast of Sugar Loaf Mountain, while the DC-6 crashed into the water just north of the landmark. The accident resulted in no survivors among the occupants of either aircraft.
Findings
Conflicting conclusions were reached regarding the primary cause of the disaster. Brazilian investigators determined that the collision was caused by improper piloting procedures by the crew of the US Navy aircraft, noting a failure to follow instructions from Rio Approach Control.
In contrast, a US Navy investigation found no specific error or negligence attributable to either flight crew. This inquiry highlighted systemic issues, including language barriers, outdated air navigation equipment, and inadequate traffic control methods in the Rio de Janeiro area. The US investigation concluded that the controller's uncertainty regarding the position of the PP-AXD, combined with an underestimation of reaction times and communication difficulties, created the hazardous conditions that led to the mid-air impact.