De Havilland DH.106 Comet crash, Nov 23, 1961 (52 killed)
De Havilland DH.106 Comet accident on November 23, 1961 near Campinas-Viracopos São Paulo, Brazil with 52 fatalities. Cause: Brazil presumed the co...
- Date: November 23, 1961
- Aircraft: De Havilland DH.106 Comet
- Location: Campinas-Viracopos São Paulo, Brazil
- Fatalities: 52
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Brazil presumed the co pilot was under flight instruction and the pilot in command may have failed to brief or supervise him; Argentina cited failure to follow instrument climb procedure on a night takeoff.
An Aerolíneas Argentinas Comet 4 on a flight from Buenos Aires to New York via Campinas hit eucalyptus trees about two minutes after takeoff from Viracopos at night on 23 November 1961. The aircraft crashed and burned, killing all 52 people on board. The Brazilian inquiry suggested the first officer was under instruction and was not properly supervised.