What happened
During a local operational mission departing from Rio de Janeiro, an S.55 seaplane collided mid-air with a second aircraft of the same type operated by the same forces. The specific registration number for the first aircraft is not provided in the available records, while the second aircraft was registered as 9. Following the impact, both planes lost control and subsequently crashed into the waters of Guanabara Bay.
The accident resulted in significant loss of life and injuries across both crews. A total of five personnel were killed: three crew members from the aircraft registered 9 and two from the other S.55. Additionally, all twelve remaining crew members on board the two aircraft sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident noted that the precise circumstances leading to the mid-air collision remain unclear. No definitive contributing factors or mechanical failures have been identified in the available documentation.