Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
TC-15
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19796
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed after the left engine failed on takeoff. The aircraft was almost destroyed and all occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on takeoff for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Mendoza: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mendoza - Santiago de Chile
MSN:
43270/187
YOM:
1951
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, the crew reported technical problems and was cleared to return with the engine number one shut down. Shortly later, the airplane crashed on Mt Santa Elena located few km from the airport. All three crew members were killed. The aircraft was chartered to Aero Dominicana.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Mendoza: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1969
Operator:
Registration:
LQ-FZC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
680-513-183
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-Aeroparque Ciudad Mendoza Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the district of Los Horcones, near the airport. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Mendoza

Date & Time: May 12, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
965
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro – Mendoza
MSN:
12676
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to El Plumerillo Airport at Mendoza, one of the propeller blade on the left engine separated, struck the fuselage and penetrated into the cabin. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and completed an emergency landing in a prairie located few km from the airfield. While all 20 occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of a propeller blade in flight.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.1 in Mendoza

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-024
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Mendoza - Mendoza
MSN:
1500
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
2450
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew but the aircraft was damaged at 90% and written off. The crew was engaged in a local training flight.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by abrupt changes in the wind direction.

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

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1962
Operator:
Registration:
E-216
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mendoza - Morón
MSN:
A-4
YOM:
1961
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris IA in Mendoza: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
E-203
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A-07
YOM:
1959
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near El Sosneado: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1960 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-GGJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Santiago de Chile – Lima
MSN:
22554
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport at 1104LT with a crew of four, five passengers and seven race horses that should be delivered in Lima, Peru. An intermediate stop was scheduled at Santiago de Chile. The crew continued the flight under VFR at 3,000 meters in good weather conditions but while approaching the region of San Luis, weather deteriorated with turbulences and poor conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located near El Sosneado. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted on 21 November 1961 in an isolated area.
Crew:
Pedro Lafuente, pilot,
Fermín Gómez, copilot,
Domingo Vacarelli, mechanic,
Oscar Carballo, navigator.
Paasengers:
Sergio Etcheverry,
Carlos Luján,
Pedro Puccineri,
Omar Silva,
Raúl Díaz.
Probable cause:
The aircraft flew into extremely violent turbulence, was subjected to stresses greater than those for which it was designed, and in-flight structural failure resulted. Contributing causes were:
- Insufficient flight preparation,
- Failure of the pilote to familiarize himself with the prevailing weather conditions,
- The horses were improperly secured.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln IIA in Mendoza

Date & Time: May 3, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
1502
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1850
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-6 in Mendoza

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-ADM
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
35
YOM:
1948
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 18 at Mendoza-El Plumerillo, the crew climbed to the altitude of 6,000 feet when the hydraulic pressure on the right engine failed. The crew decided to return to Mendoza for a safe landing but was unable to lower the gear. Shortly later, as a propeller was windmilling, causing drag, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field. The airplane crash landed in a vineyard located few km from the airfield and came to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was written off.
Probable cause:
The pilot's non-compliance with instructions in the Linea Argentina manual for effecting an emergency landing on account of loss of hydraulic fluid, and error of judgement in deciding on operation with one motor stopped and the hydraulic system out of action, when he had both the height and the time to manoeuvre.