Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Montevideo - Buenos Aires

MSN:

AC-482

YOM:

1982

Location:

Montevideo

Montevideo City District

Country:

Uruguay

Region:

Swearingen SA227 Metro III

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16177

Copilot / Total flying hours:

406

Aircraft flight hours:

26158

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Montevideo to Buenos Aires on behalf of DHL. The aircraft departed runway 24 at Montevideo-Carrasco Airport at 1945LT and the crew was cleared to climb to FL080. While reaching a height of 4,500 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea at a speed of 570 knots which caused its disintegration off Flores Island. Few debris were found the following day floating on water but the main wreckage was localized two weeks later about one NM south of Flores Island. The CVR was found on 02AUG2012 but was unreadable as the content was concerning the last 30 minutes of the precedent flight. On 11FEB2013, fishermen found the cargo door in their fishnet. No trace of the cargo nor the crew was ever found.

Probable cause:

Investigations determined that both engines were running normally at impact, that no propeller blades were lost during descent, that fuel was not contaminated and that no problems occurred on the on electrical system. Meteorological Office confirmed that severe icing conditions prevailed at the time of the accident between FL010 and FL150. The loss of control was the consequence of erroneous indications of the flight instruments, associated with the possible formation of crystalline ice on the aircraft' structure, causing a loss of situational awareness of the crew.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Dec 15, 2006 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LV-WRA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires

MSN:

AC-429

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2666

Captain / Total hours on type:

1556.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1465

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1232

Aircraft flight hours:

34587

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a positioning flight from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport. Before departure, the captain switched off the Stall Alarm System for unknown reasons. Shortly after takeoff from runway 17, the climb gradient was small and landing gear were retracted at a very low altitude. The left wing stalled and struck the runway surface. Out of control, the aircraft impacted ground, slid for few dozen metres, overran the runway and came to rest in a field. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control shortly after rotation due to the premature retraction of the landing gear and a takeoff completed with a low climb gradient in the second segment.

Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 500 in Melo

Date & Time: Apr 27, 2004 at 0415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F27 Friendship

Operator:

Registration:

N715FE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Porto Alegre – Campinas

MSN:

10468

YOM:

1971

Flight number:

FDX7145

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport on a night cargo service to Campinas-Viracopos with an intermediate stop in Porto Alegre. While cruising at an altitude of 17,000 feet, smoke was detected in the cargo compartment. The crew elected to extinguish the fire but without success. The crew contacted ATC, declared an emergency and attempted to divert to Montevideo Airport but ATC suggested the crew to divert to Melo which was the nearest airport. As this airfield was closed to traffic at this time, ATC contacted a night guard who switched on the runway lights and alerted the local emergency services. The aircraft landed 340 metres past the runway 07 threshold and stopped 640 metres further. The crew evacuated via the cockpit windows and was uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Numerous oil samples, plant tissues, and several animals that were transported, would have reacted on contact with an exothermic chemical reaction and associated combustion. The event originated with the spilling of liquid from containers not suitable for differential pressure, with little excess capacity for expansion and filled with indiscriminate materials. Low stringency in filling forms for description of product delivered for shipment in company offices and little control or careless handling of the load would have contributed to the occurrence of the accident.

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in Buenos Aires: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 2003 at 0430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild-Hiller FH-227

Operator:

Registration:

LV-MGV

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Buenos Aires - Corrientes

MSN:

567

YOM:

1967

Flight number:

CTZ760

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

27650

Aircraft flight cycles:

21574

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 17, while climbing by night, the crew reported technical problems. ATC cleared the crew for an immediate return and land. On final approach, the situation worsened and the crew apparently attempted an emergency landing on the Esperanza Golf Course when the aircraft struck a tree and crashed 5 km short of runway 35, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb for undetermined reasons. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was overload and operated over the MTOW. At impact, the left propeller was feathered while the right engine was running at full power.

Final Report:

Ground accident of a Boeing 727-287 in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Jan 9, 2001 at 1720 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

CP-2323

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Buenos Aires - Santa Cruz

MSN:

22605/1787

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

138

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was taxiing at Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport for a departure from runway 11 when the left main gear collapsed. All 146 occupants evacuated safely but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the left main landing gear collapsed because the forward trunnion bearing support fitting broke due to intergranular corrosion.

Crash of a Boeing 707-372C in Buenos Aires: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1996 at 1422 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

LV-LGP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santiago de Chile - Buenos Aires

MSN:

20077

YOM:

1968

Flight number:

LD5025

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Santiago de Chile to Buenos Aires, carrying eight crew members and a load of 30 tons of fish. On final approach to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport runway 11, at a speed of 151 knots, the crew quickly extended flaps to 14°, 25°, 40° and finally 50°, causing the aircraft to nose down and enter a rapid descent until it struck the ground 750 metres short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the aircraft broke in three and caught fire. Both pilots were killed while six other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

The following findings were reported:
- Erroneous setting of the air brakes at the same time as the flaps were fully extended during the short final approach,
- Erroneous planning during the descent and approach,
- Failure to use the experience of a similar previous event,
- Insufficient attention to the critical situation in the aircraft operating documentation,
- Failure to conduct a briefing prior to the approach and descent,
- Non-use of the LCP during the entire approach maneuver,
- Insufficient training in CRM.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2A1 in São Paulo

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1995 at 0008 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

PP-SMV

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

São Paulo – Buenos Aires

MSN:

20968

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

121

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Captain / Total hours on type:

6500.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4500

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2500

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from São Paulo-Guarulhos Airport, en route to Buenos Aires, the captain informed ATC about technical problems and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. The aircraft landed at a speed of 185 knots with flaps down to 15° on wet runway 09L. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 200 metres further. All 128 occupants were evacuated safely, among them two passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the n°3 leading edge flap actuator attachment fitting on the wing front spar had fractured due to corrosion. The actuator came away and caused the failure of some hydraulic lines and damage to the thrust control cables. Some 1981 Boeing Service Bulletins had not been complied with. One of these included the replacement of the aluminium leading edge flap actuator attachment fitting with a steel one; this had not been done. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Excessive workload on approach and landing due to the emergency situation,
- Poor approach planning,
- Lack of visibility due to the night,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor crew resources management,
- The crew forgot to lower the flaps electrically on approach, causing the speed to be 32 knots in excess,
- Poor aircraft maintenance and supervision,
- Failures in the supervision of the Company's operating sector.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1993 at 0622 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-10

Operator:

Registration:

YV-135C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Caracas - Buenos Aires

MSN:

46971/258

YOM:

1978

Flight number:

VA940

Location:

Country:

Region: