18 fatalities

Three-engine aircraft strikes Naval Academy roof during initial climb from Rio de Janeiro (PP-SPD)

Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, BrazilTakeoff (climb)

On August 27, 1943, a Junkers JU.52 (registration PP-SPD) operated by VASP - Viação Aérea de São Paulo was involved in an aviation accident near Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Brazil during takeoff. 18 people were killed. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A three-engine aircraft collided with the roof of the Naval Academy shortly after takeoff from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, resulting in 18 fatalities and 3 injuries.

What happened

The incident occurred less than one minute after departure from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. While executing the initial climb phase, the three-engine aircraft struck the roof of the Naval Academy. The impact caused the airframe to fracture into two sections; one portion remained lodged within the building structure, while the other section fell into Guanabara Bay.

The collision resulted in significant casualties among the occupants. A total of 18 people were killed, and three passengers sustained injuries. At the time of the accident, visibility conditions over Rio de Janeiro were poor due to fog.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific contributing factors or formal conclusions regarding the cause of the collision.