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| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 22, 1959 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to pilot error and route design flaw |
| Site |
|
| Total fatalities | 42 |
| Total survivors | 1 |
| First aircraft | |
 A Vickers Viscount of VASP similar to the aircraft involved | |
| Type | Vickers 827 Viscount |
| Operator | VASP |
| Registration | PP-SRG |
| Flight origin | Brasília International Airport, Brasília, Brazil |
| 1st stopover | Galeão International Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 2nd stopover | Congonhas Airport, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 3rd stopover | Salvador Bahia Airport, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil |
| 4th stopover | Recife International Airport, Recife, Brazil |
| Destination | Natal International Airport, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil |
| Occupants | 32 |
| Passengers | 26 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 32 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
 A Fokker S-11 similar to the one involved | |
| Type | Fokker S-11 |
| Operator | Brazilian Air Force |
| Registration | 0742 |
| Flight origin | Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Destination | Campo dos Afonsos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Occupants | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 1 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 10 |
VASP Flight 233 was a schedule domestic passenger flight from Brasilia, Brazil to Natal, Brazil with four stopovers (Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador and Recife). On December 22, 1959, during the approach at Galeão International Airport, the plane collided with a Brazilian Air Force's (FAB) Fokker T-21. The Vickers Viscount plummeted into the ground, killing all 32 on board with the addition of 10 on the ground. The FAB pilot parachuted out, becoming the sole survivor of the tragedy. [1][2]
Aircraft
editVickers Viscount 827 - PP-SRG
editIn the 1960s, VASP began a major modernization plan to compete with Brazilian airlines at that time. While the other airlines were opting for modern Convair CV-240 family and Lockheed L-188 Electra, VASP only had the obselete Douglas DC-3 and SAAB Scandia
In 1958, VASP ordered five Vickers Viscount 827, which would be the forst turboprop aircraft to operate in Brazil. With the success of operating them, tem more of the 701 type were acquired from British European Airways. Due to the aging, the Viscount 701 was replaced by the NAMC YS-11 after a few operating years. The Viscount 827 was used between 1958 and 1974 before being replaced by the Boeing 737.[3]
The aircraft involved was manufactured in 1958, and was received by VASP on January 29, 1959 with the registration of PP-SRG. At the time of the accident, it was the newest aircraft in VASP's fleet.[4][5]
Fokker T-21
editThe Fokker S-11 was acquired by the FAB to serve as a training aircraft for cadets in the Officer Aviator training course at the Air Force Academy. After signing an agreement with Fokker, 100 units were acquired. Several delays were reported due to financial and political reasons.[6][7]
Upon entering in 1959, the Fokker S-11, designated T-21, replaced the Fairchild PT-19 and was used until the mid 1970s for the T-23[6][7]
The aircraft involved was manufactured in 1959, registered as 0742.[5]
Accident
editThe Vickers Viscount began its journey on mourning between Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. The T-21 had taken off for a training exercise at Afonsos Air Force Base.[8]
When the Viscount was about to land at Galeão Airport at 1:40 pm, its left wing was struck and partially torn off by the T-21 - as it just had performed a spin. The T-21 crashed onto a house, causing minor injuries to a women. The pilot parachuted out and survived.[9]
Meanwhile, the Viscount spiraled into the ground despite the crew's effort. Upon impact, the plane struck into several houses with an explosion afterwards. 42 people (26 passengers, 6 crew members, 10 on ground) perished.
Among the dead were:
- The writer Otavio Tarquinio de Sousa and his wife Lucia Miguel Pereira
- The economist Benjamin Cabello
- The reporter for O Cruzeiro Luciano Carneiro[9][10]
Investigation
editThe FAB and Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) investigated the tragedy with total confidentiality. It was found that:[8]
- The Fokker T-21 lacked a radio, preventing communication with controllers at Galeão Airport.
- The pilot of the T-21 was inexperienced, having only 19 hours of flight time. He also intruded into an airway designed for commercial aviation.
- The improperly located training area caused confusion to the pilots.
However, the investigators concluded that the main cause of the accident was the failure of both pilots to maintain adequate vigilance over other aircraft.[8]
Aftermath
editAbout a year after the accident, Eduardo da Sivil Pereira, the sole survivor, was expelled from the Air Force Academy.
The disaster caused a great commotion in society at the time. The magazine O Cruzeiro began a campaign against the presence of the aeronautical school near Galeão, urging the FAB to send its cadets to a new base planned in Pirassununga, Sao Paulo.[8]
Caneiro was returning from Brasilia after reporting on the first debutante ball in the newly inaugurated Federal Capital and was carrying a brief case containing his camera and negatives. Despite the destruction, the negatives were only slightly damaged and were published as a posthumous tribute.[11]
Because of the accident, the Pirassununga base project became fruitous. The Afonsos Air Force Base still continued its operation with restrictions until 1971 [12]
This collision and another one two months later (1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision) put the city's air traffic control system to a test.[13]
References
edit- ↑ "Jornal do Brasil - Pesquisa de arquivos de notícias Google". news.google.com. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
- ↑ "Choque de aviões no Rio:42 mortos". Diário de Notícias (RJ), Ano XXX, Edição 13383, página 1. December 23, 1959. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Frota Vasp -- AviacaoComercial.net --". www.aviacaocomercial.net. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ↑ Liasch, Jonas (February 7, 2011). "Cultura Aeronáutica: Os Viscount da VASP: pioneiros turboélices no Brasil". Cultura Aeronáutica. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- 1 2 "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- 1 2 Inês Coutinho. "Acervo da Fundação Santos Dumont". Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- 1 2 "Vencendo o Azul-A história da indústria e tecnologia aeronáuticas". Fundação Museu de tecnologia de São Paulo. 2002. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 SILVA, Carlos Ari Cesar Germano da (2008). O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes. Editora EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre. pp. 177–181. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
- 1 2 "Trinta e cinco mortos no desastre do Viscount". Jornal do Brasil, Year LXIX, number 20, pages 1 and 10. December 23, 1959. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ ZUM, Revista (February 19, 2016). "Luciano Carneiro, um fotojornalista do Brasil no mundo". ZUM (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved June 4, 2026.
- ↑ Luciano Coutinho (January 15, 1960). "As debutantes de Brasília". O Cruzeiro- Republicado por Memória Viva. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ↑ Bruno de Melo Oliveira (July 19, 2012). "O Campo dos Afonsos e seu entorno urbano: breve reflexão sobre a interferência da urbanização nas organizações militares (1912-1971)". I Seminário Nacional de História da Aviação Brasileira- Universidade da Força Aérea (UNIFA). Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ↑ "Choque de aviões sobre o Rio mata 66 pessoas". Jornal do Brasil, Ano LXIX, nº 48, página 1. February 26, 1960. Retrieved February 18, 2013.