3 fatalities

Collision between two S.55 seaplanes in Guanabara Bay (9)

Rio de Janeiro, BrazilFlight

On September 3, 1931, a Savoia-Marchetti S.55 (registration 9) operated by Brazilian Navy - Aviação Naval Brasileira was involved in an aviation accident near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in flight. 3 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

Two S.55 seaplanes collided while operating out of Rio de Janeiro, resulting in five fatalities and twelve injuries among the crew members on board both aircraft.

What happened

A S.55 seaplane was conducting a local mission departing from Rio de Janeiro when it collided mid-air with another S.55 operated by the same military forces. The second aircraft carried the registration 5. Following the impact, both planes lost control and crashed into Guanabara Bay. The accident resulted in significant loss of life and injuries across both crews. Specifically, three crew members aboard the S.55 registered 9 were killed, along with two crew members from the aircraft registered 5. In total, five people died in the incident. Additionally, all twelve remaining crew members on board both seaplanes sustained injuries.

Findings

The precise circumstances leading to the mid-air collision remain unclear. No definitive contributing factors or conclusions have been established regarding why the two aircraft occupied the same airspace at the time of the accident.