Aircraft overrun into Guanabara Bay at Santos Dumont Airport

No fatalities • Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft overran the runway at Santos Dumont Airport after landing on a wet surface, resulting in the plane entering Guanabara Bay.

What happened

During a routine flight, the crew performed an approach and landed at Santos Dumont Airport. Upon touching down on a runway that was wet at the time, the aircraft was unable to decelerate sufficiently within the available runway length. This led to an overrun where the plane exited the paved surface and entered Guanabara Bay.

Despite the severity of the excursion, all 31 occupants were successfully evacuated from the wreckage without sustaining any injuries. The aircraft itself was a total loss following the incident.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified that the crew performed the landing with an incorrect approach configuration. This error resulted in the aircraft maintaining an excessive speed during the touchdown phase. Additional contributing elements included the presence of a tailwind component and the reduced braking effectiveness caused by the wet runway surface.

Probable cause

The flight crew completed the landing procedure with an improper approach configuration, leading to excessive touchdown speed.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1954-10-21 Douglas DC-3 accident near Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil?

An aircraft overran the runway at Santos Dumont Airport after landing on a wet surface, resulting in the plane entering Guanabara Bay.

Were there any fatalities in the 1954-10-21 Douglas DC-3 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1954-10-21 involved a Douglas DC-3, registration PP-CCP, operated by Cruzeiro do Sul, at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The flight crew completed the landing procedure with an improper approach configuration, leading to excessive touchdown speed.

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