Varig Flight 1

**Varig Flight 1** was a Boeing 737-200, c/n 21061/330,  registration PP-VMF, on a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Newark, NYC, USA to San Diego, USA, on January 13, 1980, The flight had two three stopovers, the first being in Washington D.C, the last being in Miami, Florida Prior to takeoff Newark, the crew forgot to turn the on planes terrain warning, flying deep into woods near Telluride, Attempts to reach an alternative airport were unsuccessful, and the plane eventually ran out of fuel, making a belly landing in the fields of Curles Meak Farm, Virginia, USA, Of the 30 passengers and crew, 0 died but some passengers had sustained serious injuries. The survivors were rescued 1 hour later.

## Passengers And Crew

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 737-201 registered as PP-VJK, which first flew in 1968. It was powered by two Pratt & Witney JT3D-3B turbofan engines. PP-VMF was Varig's 31st passenger Boeing 737-200 and the aircraft's final flight with Varig, having already been sold to the Brazilian Air Force.

The flight crew consisted of Captain, Johń Càlsío (Age 39) And First Officer Riô Joàke (Age 40)

There Were 3 Flight Attendants

## Crash

On Thursday, January 13, 1980, Varig Flight 1 departed Newark bound for Washington D.C, at 3:08 PM AEST, As it passed Philadelphia, at 4:00 PM AEST, the Boeing 737-200 Reached cruising altitude of 18000 feet. For the next 25 to 30 minutes violent turbulence accompanied by intermittent periods of hail were encountered. The flight continued past Philadelphia for a few minutes toward Dover and the captain made a turn to the west in an attempt to avoid as much of the storm area as possible. The flight broke out in a clear area at about 15:17. The flight was able to continue VFR and descended to 8,000 feet. A second squall was encountered in the vicinity of Curles, Virginia, at 4:35 PM AEST, The aircraft was slowed to 185 mph IAS, light turbulence and buffeting were experienced. After breaking out of the storm at 15:54, the buffeting became so severe that the crew believed the aircraft would disintegrate before they could reach Washington D.C to attempt an emergency landing. Airspeed was further reduced, but the buffeting continued. Two minutes later, and only a few miles short of the runway, the captain radioed an emergency and the flight descended.

The captain recognized Curles Meak Farm selected the largest field, and landed straight ahead with the flaps up and the landing gear retracted. He felt it inadvisable to make any turn, lower the flaps, or otherwise to change the flight configuration, since the cause of the severe buffeting was unknown. During the last few moments of flight, as the nose of the aircraft touched high corn in a field, the copilot and Pilot cut all switches. A power line pole at the edge of the corn field was struck by the right wing as the aircraft passed under the wires. After passing over Curles Meak Road, a section of fence was torn down and the aircraft skidded 1,100 feet through a field, another fence, and finally came to rest in a pasture 265 feet from the second fence at 15:59. A localized fire developed outside of the No. 2 engine, but was quickly extinguished by rain and the local fire department who arrived at the scene within a short time.

On July 14, 1985, United Airlines Flight 501, Another Boeing 737-200 Crashed In Jacksonville Shortly After Take Off