Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I in Berisso

Date & Time: Feb 16, 2023 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CX-MAX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montevideo – Buenos Aires
MSN:
208-0042
YOM:
1985
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a cargo flight from Montevideo to Buenos Aires, while cruising at night over the Río de la Plata, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to divert to La Plata Airport located in the Buenos Aires Province. On approach, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane impacted trees and crashed on a small road located about 5 km northeast of runway 20 threshold, bursting into flames. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Río Grande: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 2022 at 1436 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BPA
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Río Grande – San Fernando
MSN:
35-143
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was returning to its base in San Fernando following an ambulance flight from Comodoro Rivadavia to Río Grande. After takeoff from Río Grande-Gobernador Ramón Trejo Noel Airport runway 26, while in initial climb, the airplane rolled to the left, nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion about 350 metres south from the runway 08 threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed. A failure of the left engine after rotation is suspected.
Crew:
Claudio Canelo, pilot,
Héctor Vittore, copilot.
Passengers:
Diego Ciolfi, doctor,
Denise Torres Garcá, nurse.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Esquel: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2020 at 2238 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BXU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Fernando – Esquel
MSN:
35-462
YOM:
1982
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1498
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2612
Aircraft flight hours:
11711
Aircraft flight cycles:
10473
Circumstances:
The airplane departed San Fernando Airport on an ambulance flight to Esquel, carrying a doctor, a nurse and two pilots. On approach to Esquel-Brigadier General Antonio Parodi Airport at night, the crew encountered poor visibility (200 metres) and the visual contact with the runway was lost intermittently. Nevertheless, the crew continued the approach and at decision height, the captain decided to continue the descent. After crossing Runway 23 threshold at a height of 78 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a go-around procedure and turned to the left. The airplane continued in a left hand turn, causing the left wing tip fuel tank to struck the ground. Out of control, the airplane crashed on a small embankment located about 400 metres to the left of the runway centerline, coming to rest upside down and bursting into flames. Both passengers were killed and both pilots were seriously injured. Two days later, the copilot died from injuries sustained.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and the airplane did not suffer any technical anomalies.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The crew failed to check the approach charts according to SOP's,
- The approach was initiated and continued in conditions that were below weather minimums,
- Visibility data transmitted by Tower to the crew were inaccurate, leading to confusion on the part of the pilots and their decision-making,
- Both engines were at full power upon impact as the crew was initiating a go-around procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35A in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Mar 7, 2019 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BNR
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rosario – Buenos Aires
MSN:
35-373
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Rosario-Islas Malvinas Airport at 1900LT on a charter flight to Buenos Aires, carrying two passengers and two pilots. On approach to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and strong winds. The aircraft landed 200 metres past the runway 13 threshold and the crew stated the braking procedure. After a course of about 500 metres, the aircraft deviated to the left and veered off runway. It rolled on a grassy area then contacted the concrete taxiway, causing both main landing gear to be torn off. The aircraft came to rest 860 metres from the runway threshold and was damaged beyond repair. All four occupants evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Conclusions regarding factors related to the accident:
- At the time of the event, meteorological conditions were poor with a strong storm, rain and gusts of wind.
- Visual cues may have been reduced due to heavy rain falls.
- The aircraft was displaced from the runway center line when it made contact with the ground.
- The aircraft made contact with the left landing gear off the runway due to strong gusts of wind.
- The lateral excursion to the grassy area occurred due to the impossibility of recovering the trajectory of the aircraft, once it was displaced by the action of the wind.
Final Report:

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-26A Marquise near San Fernando: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 2017 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-MCV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Fernando – Las Lomitas
MSN:
361
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
682
Captain / Total hours on type:
58.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5804
Aircraft flight cycles:
4670
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Fernando Airport in Buenos Aires, while in initial climb, the pilot was contacted by ATC about an apparent transponder issue. The crew did not respond when, few seconds later, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a marshy area located in the delta of Paraná de la Palmas. The wreckage was found on August 19 about 17 km north of San Fernando Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Matías Ronzano,
Passengers:
Emanuel Vega,
Matías Aristi.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during climb due to the combination of the following factors:
- The particular characteristics of the aircraft;
- The attention required by the transponder as it is not displayed by air traffic control;
- The detour of the planned flight at the request of the inspection department of air traffic;
- Aircraft trajectory management with autopilot switched off;
- The pilot's limited experience in instrument flight conditions. In addition, the absence of additional instruction in the aircraft type (due to the lack of specific regulations) can be considered a contributing factor, according to the probable scenario described above. In addition, the research identified the following elements with potential impact in operational safety:
- Absence of the TAWS system on the aircraft in non-conformity with the established RAAC 91;
- Lack of effective means to enable the flight plan office to quickly determine whether an aircraft has operating restrictions;
- Shortcomings in the training of staff in the units ATS and SAR in search and rescue.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 421A Golden Eagle I near Buenos Aires

Date & Time: May 31, 2017 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LQ-JLY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
El Palomar - Buenos Aires
MSN:
421A-0092
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
563
Captain / Total hours on type:
50.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1680
Copilot / Total hours on type:
320
Aircraft flight hours:
5826
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed El Palomar Airport at 1604LT on a training flight, carrying one passenger and two pilots. While descending to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, the right engine failed. The crew was unable to restart the engine and to maintain a safe altitude, so he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field located 24 km from the airport, bursting into flames. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight due to fuel exhaustion. Lack of proper procedures by the operator was considerd as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 2015 at 1615 LT
Operator:
Registration:
GN-804
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires
MSN:
786
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was completing a local mission in Buenos Aires. In flight, the left wing detached, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent and to crash, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed. The left wing was found about 180 metres from the wreckage.

Crash of a Learjet 35A in San Fernando

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2015 at 0640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-ZSZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Fernando - Rio Gallegos
MSN:
35A-235
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9851
Captain / Total hours on type:
6200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1100
Copilot / Total hours on type:
39
Aircraft flight hours:
12190
Aircraft flight cycles:
9517
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Buenos Aires-San Fernando Airport on a positioning flight to Río Gallegos, carrying two pilots. During the takeoff roll, the copilot (pilot-in-command) noticed that the left engine N1 reached a value of 101% instead of 95% like the right engine. At that point the aircraft had already traveled 380 metres. As the aircraft started to veer to the right, the copilot decided to abandon the takeoff procedure without informing the captain. The power levers were brought back to idle and the copilot started to brake. After a course of about 980 metres, the right engine N1 value dropped to 30-40% while the left engine remained at 101%. Then the captain took over control, deployed briefly the thrust reverser system when the aircraft departed the runway to the right. While rolling in a grassy area, it struck a drainage ditch located 80 metres from the runway, lost its undercarriage then slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The most likely cause of the uncommanded acceleration and subsequent overspeed condition was a contamination of retained particles present within the fuel control unit (FCU). The contamination was a short-lived random condition, as evidenced by the fact that after about 30 seconds the power lever regained control of the left engine. On a general aviation flight, during the take-off run, the LJ35 LV-ZSZ suffered a runway excursion on the right side, and a subsequent aircraft fire.
The accident was due to the combination of the following factors:
- The uncommanded acceleration of the left engine at the start of the take-off run,
- The initial lack of response of the left engine to the requests of the corresponding power lever,
- The difficulties of the crew in managing an unusual condition of the aircraft in accordance with guidelines established in the AFM,
- The ambivalence in the existing regulations for the authorization of a co-pilot in an aircraft that require two pilots for certification,
- The duality in the application of safety standards allowed by the existing normative regulations.
Although unrelated, the state of the runway 05/23 protection zone at the San Fernando Aerodrome contributed to the severity of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 300LW Super King Air in Nordelta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 2014 at 1515 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LV-WLT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lincoln – Buenos Aires
MSN:
FA-221
YOM:
1992
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
14004
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2630
Aircraft flight cycles:
2419
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Lincoln-Estancia La Nueva Airport on a private flight to Buenos Aires, carrying one passenger and one pilot. While descending to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport, the pilot was unable to intercept the ILS for runway 13 because of an excessive speed of 260 knots and a too high angle of descent. In such conditions, he could not configure the aircraft for approach and landing (flaps) in accordance with the information in the BE 300 flight manual. He completed a left turn at a speed of 228 knots and descended below the glide before initiating a second turn to the right when control was lost. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed onto two houses located in Nordelta, about 26 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft and two houses were destroyed and both occupants were killed, among them Gustavo Andres Deutsch aged 78 who was the former owner of the defunct airline LAPA.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from the combination of immediate triggers and failures in the aeronautical system's defenses, including:
- Prevailing weather conditions at the scene of the accident;
- Pilot-in-command experienced difficulties in managing aircraft control and flight path during an instrument approach;
- The probability of overload of work of the pilot in command as a result of the operational demands presented by the situation;
- The execution of the operation by a single pilot (single pilot operation), taking into account the age of the pilot; and
- Deficiencies in pilot-in-command certification denying the value of CE-6 as a defense barrier for the aeronautical system (CE-6 is a Critical Element of ICAO Annex 19 regarding responsibilities in issuing licenses).
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Deán Funes

Date & Time: Apr 27, 2014 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-JGN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Termas de Río Hondo – Río Cuarto
MSN:
31-213
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
462
Captain / Total hours on type:
8.00
Aircraft flight hours:
5245
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Termas de Río Hondo Airport on a flight to Río Cuarto, carrying six passengers and one pilot who took part to a motorcycle GP in Termas de Río Hondo. About 45 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot contacted ATC and was cleared to divert to Deán Funes Airfield. On approach, he realized he could not make it and attempted an emergency landing on the National Road 60 at km 835. After touchdown, the aircraft veered off the street, lost its nose gear and came to rest in bushes. One passenger and the pilot were injured while five other occupants escaped unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following findings were identified:
- Failure of the left engine in cruising flight due to the failure of the fuel injection system connected to the cylinder n°3,
- Inadequate maintenance of the aircraft and engine and non application of the bulletins related to the maintenance of the injection system,
- Impossibility for the pilot to increase engine power due to the high temperature of the cylinder,
- The aircraft's performances were degraded,
- Late decision of the pilot to attempt an emergency landing at dusk,
- Insufficient information regarding the procedure to feather the propeller.
Final Report: