9 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident near Viçosa during training flight (7001)

Viçosa, BrazilFlight

On July 31, 1962, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration 7001) operated by Brazilian Air Force - Força Aérea Brasileira (1941-) was involved in an aviation accident near Viçosa, Brazil in flight. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost control and entered a dive during a training flight. 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 training flight departing from Recife-Guararapes Airport resulted in a fatal crash in a field near Viçosa, causing the deaths of all nine people on board.

What happened

During a scheduled training mission originating from Recife-Guararapes Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control. While navigating the airspace, the plane entered a steep dive toward the earth, ultimately impacting a field situated in the vicinity of Viçosa.

The impact resulted in a total of nine fatalities, as all crew members on board were killed in the accident. There were no survivors reported from the wreckage.

Findings

Initial reports indicate that the aircraft became uncontrollable during its flight phase, leading to the high-velocity descent and subsequent crash into the terrain.

Probable cause

The aircraft lost control and entered a dive during a training flight.