2 fatalities

1959-11-22: Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) (PP-NAZ) — Navegação Aérea Brasileira - NAB — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, BrazilTakeoff (climb)

On November 22, 1959, a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3) (registration PP-NAZ) operated by Navegação Aérea Brasileira - NAB was involved in an aviation accident near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during takeoff. 2 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781247028Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the ocean off the coast of Rio de Janeiro during a night-time training flight.

What happened

During a night-time pilot proficiency check, an aircraft departed from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. While the plane was in its initial climb phase, it became uncontrollable and descended into the ocean. The impact occurred approximately 16 km away from Ilha Rasa, situated south of Rio de Janeiro.

In the hours following the descent, small amounts of debris were observed floating on the surface of the water. Subsequent search efforts led to the discovery of the primary wreckage and the bodies of both pilots.

Findings

No specific technical reasons for the loss of control were detailed in the initial report, though the incident occurred while the crew was performing a scheduled proficiency flight.