1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision

The 1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision was an aerial collision between two aircraft over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 25, 1960. A United States Navy Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A) (BuNo 131582) flying from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Air Force Base collided over Guanabara Bay, close to the Sugarloaf Mountain, with a Real Transportes Aéreos Douglas DC-3, registration PP-AXD, operating flight 751 from Campos dos Goytacazes to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport. The crash occurred at 16:10 local time at an altitude of 1,600 meters (5,249 feet).[1][2][3][4]

1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision
Accident
DateFebruary 25, 1960
SummaryMid-air collision
SiteGuanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Total fatalities61
Total survivors3
First aircraft

A U.S. Navy Douglas R6D-1 similar to the accident aircraft
TypeDouglas R6D-1 (DC-6A)
OperatorUnited States Navy
Registration131582
Flight originBuenos Aires-Ezeiza
DestinationGaleão Air Force Base
Occupants38
Passengers31
Crew7
Fatalities35
Survivors3
Second aircraft

A Douglas DC-3 similar to the accident aircraft
TypeDouglas DC-3
OperatorReal Transportes Aéreos
RegistrationPP-AXD
Flight originCampos dos Goytacazes
DestinationRio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport
Occupants26
Passengers23
Crew3
Fatalities26
Survivors0

The US Navy aircraft was carrying members of the United States Navy Band to Brazil to perform at a diplomatic reception attended by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Of the 38 occupants of the American aircraft, 3 survived. All 26 passengers and crew of the Brazilian aircraft died. The probable causes of the accident are disputed, but include human error, both air and ground, and faulty equipment.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "Accident description 131582". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  2. ^ "Accident description PP-AXD". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  3. ^ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Torre de Babel". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928-1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 182–186. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
  4. ^ Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve história da aviação comercial brasileira (in Portuguese). Europa. p. 286.
  5. ^ Ruane, Michael E. (February 26, 2010). "Friends, Musicians Honor Victims Of 1960 Navy Band Crash". The Washington Post. p. B1. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  6. ^ Eisenhower's Tour of Latin America, 61 Die in Air Crash. World News Digest. March 2, 1960.