| 1960 Rio de Janeiro mid-air collision | |
| Date: | February 25, 1960 |
| Type: | Mid-air collision |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Site: | Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Total Fatalities: | 61 |
| Total Survivors: | 3 |
| Plane1 Type: | Douglas R6D-1 (DC-6A) |
| Plane1 Image: | Douglas C-118B Liftmaster.jpg |
| Plane1 Caption: | A U.S. Navy Douglas R6D-1 similar to the accident aircraft |
| Plane1 Operator: | United States Navy |
| Plane1 Tailnum: | 131582 |
| Plane1 Origin: | Buenos Aires-Ezeiza |
| Plane1 Destination: | Galeão Air Force Base |
| Plane1 Occupants: | 38 |
| Plane1 Passengers: | 31 |
| Plane1 Crew: | 7 |
| Plane1 Fatalities: | 35 |
| Plane1 Survivors: | 3 |
| Plane2 Type: | Douglas DC-3 |
| Plane2 Image: | Douglas DC 3; 2014.jpg |
| Plane2 Caption: | A Douglas DC-3 similar to the accident aircraft |
| Plane2 Operator: | Real Transportes Aéreos |
| Plane2 Tailnum: | PP-AXD |
| Plane2 Origin: | Campos dos Goytacazes |
| Plane2 Destination: | Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport |
| Plane2 Occupants: | 26 |
| Plane2 Passengers: | 23 |
| Plane2 Crew: | 3 |
| Plane2 Fatalities: | 26 |
| Plane2 Survivors: | 0 |
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]
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]