Crash of a Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne 400LS in Mercedes

Date & Time: Aug 13, 2010 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LQ-BLU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mercedes - La Plata
MSN:
42-5527037
YOM:
1987
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4294
Captain / Total hours on type:
390.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2827
Copilot / Total hours on type:
14
Aircraft flight hours:
1526
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 19 at Mercedes Airport, the twin engine aircraft deviated to the right then to the left. Control was lost and the aircraft veered off runway to the left, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in bushed with its left wing partially torn off. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Both passengers were Ricardo Casal, Minister of Justice and Security, and Maria del Carmen Falbo, Attorney.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during takeoff following the crew's decision to perform the operation outside of the procedures established in the flight manual. The overconfidence of the crew as well as the operation of both engines at low regime were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Mercedes

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
S-3
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04231
YOM:
1949
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Belly landed at Mercedes Airport while completing an ambulance flight. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4 near Mercedes: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1959 at 0415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N88900
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
San Salvador – Miami
MSN:
10504
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Christened 'Clipper Fearless', the airplane departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport with a delay of five hours due to loading issues. While cruising by night on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient and that he was not following the assigned route when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Mercedes. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane was off course by 37 km at the time of the accident. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of this deviation.