Zone
Mendoza

Ground accident of a Saab 340A in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jan 2, 2013 at 1011 LT
Type of aircraft:
Saab 340
Operator:
Registration:
LV-BMD
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mendoza - Neuquén
MSN:
123
YOM:
1988
Flight number:
OLS5420
Location:
Mendoza-El Plumerillo
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7000
Captain / Total hours on type:
600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1818
Copilot / Total hours on type:
110
Aircraft flight hours:
47798
Circumstances:
While taxiing to runway 18 for a departure to Neuquén, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off taxiway to the left and rolled onto a soft ground four about 40 metres before coming to rest. The nose gear sank in soft ground, causing both propeller blades to struck the ground and to be partially torn off. The fuselage was hit by debris. All 33 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The loss of control during taxiing was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The electric pump which controls fluid pressure in the hydraulic system was not operational, generating a deficit of fluid pressure in the hydraulic system.
- The low fluid pressure warning in the hydraulic system was not recognized by the crew.
- The crew could not control the path of the aircraft due to the unavailability of nose wheel steering.
- The persistence of an informal practice among the crews of the operator on the operation of the hydraulic system, contrary to the concept of operation of the hydraulic system established by the manufacturer.
- The lack of detection of the informal practice on the operation of the hydraulic system by the operator's safety monitoring mechanisms.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Las Primaveras

Date & Time: Mar 12, 2003 at 1940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Federal Aviation
Registration:
LV-MML
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mendoza – Buenos Aires
MSN:
31-7852133
YOM:
1978
Location:
Las Primaveras
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4364
Captain / Total hours on type:
52.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1109
Copilot / Total hours on type:
142
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Mendoza-El Plumerillo on a ferry flight to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport with two pilots on board. After takeoff, the crew was cleared to climb to 7,000 feet then to proceed to the east via airway W9. About 20 minutes into the flight, after being cleared to descend to FL55, the crew noticed smoke in the cabin. Assuming the smoke was coming from under the panel instruments, the crew used the fire extinguisher put smoke continued to spread in the cabin. The crew informed ATC about his situation, reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The crew lowered the landing gear but completed a flapless landing in an open field. The aircraft rolled for few dozen metres before coming to a halt, bursting into flames. Both pilots evacuated safely while the aircraft was consumed by fire.
Probable cause:
A fire broke out in flight, probably in the electrical wiring, for reasons that investigations were unable to determine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Fokker F27 Friendship 400M in Mendoza: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 2001 at 1220 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F27 Friendship
Operator:
Registration:
TC-76
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mendoza – Paraná
MSN:
10412
YOM:
1969
Location:
Mendoza-El Plumerillo
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, while climbing to a height of about 50 metres, the right engine lost power. The crew declared an emergency and initiated a left turn to return to the airport when control was lost. The aircraft stalled and crashed 300 metres past the runway end, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed. They were completing a training flight to Paraná.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760A Paris 1A near Manantiales

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1990
Type of aircraft:
Morane-Saulnier M.S.760 Paris
Operator:
Registration:
E-234
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mendoza - Mendoza
MSN:
A-22
YOM:
1962
Location:
Manantiales
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Mendoza-El Plumerillo on a post maintenance test flight. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances on a hilly terrain located near Manantiales. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Córdoba: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1984 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 401
Operator:
Registration:
LV-JJR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mendoza - Córdoba
Location:
Córdoba-Ambrosio Taravella (Pajas Blancas)
Córdoba
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Córdoba-Ambrosio Taravella, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and rain showers. The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Juárez Celman, about 5 km short of runway 23 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.

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

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TC-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19796
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mendoza-El Plumerillo
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
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:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
HI-146
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mendoza - Santiago de Chile
MSN:
43270/187
YOM:
1951
Location:
Mendoza
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
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 Junkers JU.86Z in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.86
Operator:
Registration:
901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Mendoza-El Plumerillo
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff, the twin engine airplane belly landed and came to rest in an open field. There were no casualties. The aircraft was engaged in a humanitarian mission, carrying stuffs for the victims of the recent earthquake in San Juan.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86K-6 in Lontué River

Date & Time: May 30, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.86
Operator:
Registration:
1
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Morón – Mendoza – Santiago
Location:
Curicó
Región del Maule
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Santiago following an official visit in Argentina. The airplane departed Morón AFB, made a technical stop at Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport then departed for the last leg to Santiago de Chile. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew was unable to continue. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a rocky area located on an island in the Lontué River. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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