Narrative:The Loide Curtiss C-46 approached Campina Grande at an altitude 200 m below the minimum. The crew started the final approach and descended to 520 m (minimum altitude was 647 m) to obtain a view of the runway. The aircraft was by then over the runway. The pilot then chose to enter a visual traffic pattern, but this approach was missed again and the aircraft climbed in a spiral to 750 m. A procedure turn was made to a heading of 200 degrees and another descent was initiated. This descend continued until the C-46 struck the ground and crashed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was due to pilot error - improper procedure during an authorized instrument flight. A contributing cause was an error on the part of other personnel - the meteorological forecast was incorrect."
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 59-AN/54 (211)
» O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX / Carlos Ari César Germano da Silva
» Folha da Noite 8 September 1958, p2
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Recife-Guararapes International Airport, PE to Campina Grande Airport, PB as the crow flies is 143 km (89 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.