Crash of an Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette in Córdoba: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 2000 at 0604 LT
Registration:
EC-DQG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Málaga - Córdoba
MSN:
27
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
MYO611
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6232
Captain / Total hours on type:
3251.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1875
Copilot / Total hours on type:
22
Aircraft flight hours:
5743
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Málaga-Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport at 0543LT on a positioning flight to Córdoba. On board were two pilots who were flying to Córdoba to pick up a medical team for a transplantation mission. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, the crew started the descent but encountered poor visibility due to the night and foggy conditions. At that moment, the horizontal visibility was 300 metres and the vertical visibility about 500 feet. As Córdoba Airport was not equipped with an ILS system, the crew decided to attempt an approach via a GPS system. On final approach, the aircraft was too low, struck a utility pole then crashed onto a uninhabited house located 1,500 metres short of runway 21. The aircraft was destroyed, one pilot was killed and the second was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred when the aircraft crew carried out an approach maneuver to Córdoba Airport in conditions of very reduced visibility in fog, based exclusively on the GPS receiver of the communications navigation system installed in the aircraft and without reliably monitoring the ground separation. It is likely that the decision to carry out this maneuver was influenced by a pressure to complete the mission, self-generated by the crew members, or self-generated by the pilot-in-command, and induced or not by him and the copilot, as a consequence of an urgent humanitarian operation that entrusted about the confidence of the pilot-in-command and his experience, the navigation system that equipped the aircraft and the knowledge of the destination airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760A Paris I in Córdoba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1964 at 0800 LT
Operator:
Registration:
E-231
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A-19
YOM:
1962
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Collided in flight with another Argentinian Air Force MS.760 over Córdoba. While the crew of the second aircraft was able to land at Córdoba Airport, E-231 dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie, killing both pilots.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Córdoba: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-67
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
La Rioja – Córdoba
MSN:
04027
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Córdoba Airbase, the twin engine aircraft struck the ground and crashed near Villa Allende, some 15 km north of the airfield. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Buenos Aires: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1961 at 2057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-FTO
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salta – Córdoba – Buenos Aires
MSN:
193
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
6772
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3816
Aircraft flight hours:
8926
Circumstances:
Approaching Buenos Aires Airport, the crew was cleared for a runway 12 instrument approach. At 1300 m short of the runway and 175 m to the right of the extended centerline, the aircraft hit a 8 m high railway signal pole. The outer part of the right wing separated and the Curtiss turned about 45° to the right, striking a group of trees and telegraph lines. The aircraft crashed in flames and was destroyed upon impact. Two crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to follow the instrument approach chart.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Santiago del Estero

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ACM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Córdoba
MSN:
9490
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Due to weather deterioration at Córdoba and poor visibility due to fog, the crew was diverted to Santiago del Estero. En route, the pilot informed ATC that he was low of fuel and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. All ten occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing at alternative aerodrome when flying time was exhausted with undercarriage up, in CGO conditions due to unusual fog build-up.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Córdoba

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
T-21
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9936
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Córdoba-Pajas Blancas Airport, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field located 6 km northeast of the airport and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln IIA near Córdoba: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-028
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Córdoba – Villa Reynolds
MSN:
1504
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Aircraft flight hours:
1050
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Córdoba Airport, while cruising by night and in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm activity), the airplane went out of control and crashed on the side of a mountain. All 11 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-6 in Capilla del Señor

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1954 at 1520 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ADQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Córdoba
MSN:
77
YOM:
1949
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft, engaged on a scheduled flight non-stop from Ezeiza to Córdoba, took off from Ezeiza Airport at 1500LT with 27 passengers and 5 crew. The approved flight plan provided for a VFR flight at a cruising level of 1,200 meters. At 1510LT the aircraft asked Buenos Aires ATC for clearance to change its altitude to 600 meters due to a marked frontal belt having been encountered. Shortly after this, the aircraft entered a storm area with rain, hail and strong electrical discharges of increasing intensity which caused uncontrolled loss of altitude. It continued descending until it struck the ground at approximately 1520LT, injuring the pilot, two crew and four passengers.
Probable cause:
Through causes which could not be fully ascertained and in circumstances arising while the aircraft, in attempting to leave the area of a violent storm, was flying at a low altitude, the aircraft was carried into the ground. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- The persistence of the pilot-in-command in attempting in climb, without making use, at the appropriate time, of the full power available to arrest the descent caused, according to his own statement, by meteorological conditions,
- The decision by the pilot-in-command to enter a local storm the violence of which he did not foresee and which he could have circumnavigated as prescribed by the operational standards of the company,
- The fact that the pilot-in-command had no meteorological information relating to the weather conditions he encountered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near Amaná: 25 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1954 at 2130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ACX
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mendoza – Córdoba
MSN:
12387
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft, engaged on a scheduled flight between Mendoza and Córdoba, left Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport at 1847LT with a crew of 4 and 21 passengers on board. At 2026LT the crew reported that he was diverting to La Rioja Airport as it was impossible to approach Córdoba due to poor weather conditions with heavy turbulences. At 2125Lt the crew reported to ATC about an ETA at La Rioja at 2140LT. Shortly later, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Sierra de Vilgo, near the village of Amaná. The wreckage was found three days later and all 25 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
For reasons which could not be determined the aircraft deviated from the prescribed route and followed a course which led it to crash in mountainous terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot-in-command's decision to descend below the minimum altitude specified for weather conditions requiring an instrument approach, contrary to the provisions of the Airline Operations Manual. A probable contributing factor was the probable fatigue of the aircraft crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Córdoba

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1953 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ABQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santa Cruz – Salta – Córdoba
MSN:
7468
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
5300.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) on a scheduled airline flight and landed without incident at Salta 2 hours and 30 minutes later. It took off from Salta airport for Córdoba at approximately 1645LT. At take-off the aircraft was carrying a total load of 3,512 kg. The route forecast as far as Marcos Juarez was as follows: partly cloudy, visibility 15 km, stratocumulus cloud 7/8 at 800 meters, altocumulus 3/8 at 3'000 meters, upper wind 20' 13/15 knots. The aircraft contacted Córdoba Airport control tower at 1856LT and was cleared to enter the airport zone. At 1925LT it passed over the radio beacon and the control tower provided the following weather information: horizontal visibility 6 km, average height of cloud 250 meters, pressure for altimeter correction 30 inches, surface wind SE, 10 to 11 knots. The approach to the airport was begun under IFR conditions, at an indicated speed of mph and at an altitude of 5, 100 feet above the radio range (the requirement is 4,400 feet). aircraft flew a course to the north for 1 minute 50 seconds, with 15° flaps and then, continuing the descent, it turned to the right on a 45° course, flying in this direction for 1 minute more. The altitude just before the turn was 3, 100 feet. It then turned to the left on a course of 225°. When the aircraft direction finder indicated 40° to the left, the compass was set at 180° and the direction finder maintained at O°. At that moment, according to the evidence, the instruments indicated an altitude of 2, 980 feet. The aircraft flew at this altitude for 30 seconds, and the engine speed was reduced for landing. It continued to descend for another minute 20 seconds until the altimeter indicated 2, 200 feet. At that instant, according to the statements made by the pilot-in-command and the copilot, the aircraft came into contact with the ground. The aircraft was finishing the final straight-in approach to the airport and was aligned exactly with runway 17. All 41 occupants were evacuated safely, only both pilots were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Since it was evident that the accident was caused by the fact that the aircraft had been unduly deflected toward the north during the instrument approach, the investigation attempted to discover the reasons for that deflection. The following probable factors were considered:
- An analysis of the approach maneuver indicated that it had been started at a greater altitude than that prescribed by the instrument approach procedures. This in itself would result in a steeper descent on the northern course, and it is possible therefore that the speed of 140 miles per hour was exceeded by 5 or 10 knots, particularly since the landing gear was retracted and tail wind was not taken into account in timing the maneuver,
- The copilot stated that he called the time on his stop-watch, using the small second-hand because the large one was not working properly. This was confirmed by the Investigating Board. Since the co-pilot was wearing the watch on the left wrist and working constantly with that hand in trying to tune in the "C" marker beacon, his time readings may have been inaccurate with the result that the total time may have been exceeded by a few seconds,
- The possibility of upper wind of an intensity greater than that registered on the surface.
This theory was accepted, taking into account the fact that two fronts of the "upper" cold front type occurred at Córdoba on 17 June 1953
Final Report: