Ushuaia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Ushuaia Airport, following an uneventful cargo flight from Río Grande, the twin engine aircraft collided with a flock of birds. The windshield was broken and the left engine lost power. The crew was able to continue the approach and landing. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and collided with a snow wall. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Bird strike on final approach.

Crash of a Boeing 737-287 in Ushuaia

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1988 at 1136 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

LV-LIU

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Bahia Blanca – Río Grande – Ushuaia

MSN:

20964

YOM:

1974

Flight number:

AR648

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

While descending to Ushuaia Airport, the crew was informed about the weather conditions at destination: wind 230° at 12 knots, runway 16 in use, visibility 30 km, 3/8 SC at 1,200 meters, 2/8 CU at 1,500 meters, temperature 9° C, QNH 998,4 mb. After passing 8,000 feet on descent, the crew was cleared to land on runway 16 but the captain prefered to land on runway 34 as the last report indicated a wind from 360° gusting at 20 knots. Therefore, the crew was informed about possible windshear on approach. At an excessive speed of 140 knots (instead of the 128 knots as prescribed), the aircraft landed hard on runway 34 (positive acceleration of 1,89 G) and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway, went down an embankment and came to rest in the sea (about two meters of water). All 62 occupants were evacuated, among them 13 were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who landed the aircraft at an excessive speed. The crew failed to use all available braking systems after touchdown, which was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1A-H2 Turbo Porter in Trelew

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1986 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)

Operator:

Registration:

0684/6-G-2

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2045

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Learjet 35A off Ushuaia: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1984 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 35

Operator:

Registration:

LV-TDF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Río Grande – Ushuaia

MSN:

35-478

YOM:

1982

Location:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery Airport on a flight to Ushuaia with an intermediate stop in Río Grande, carrying two pilots and 10 passengers, among them the Governor of the Province of Tierra del Fuego. Following a stop at Río Grande Airport where two passengers disembarked and two others boarded, the aircraft took off at 1638LT on the last leg to Ushuaia. On approach to Ushuaia Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to snow falls. On final in IMC conditions, the captain decided to continue under VFR mode but failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the water surface and crashed in the Beagle Canal, about 9 km east of the airport. The aircraft sank and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mario Marconcini, pilot,
Rodolfo Pourrain, copilot.
Passengers:
Ramón Alberto Trejo Noel, Governor of the Province of Tierra del Fuego,
Mrs Ofelia Olga Lisa, Mr. Noel spouse,
Dr. Ernesto Julio Löffler,
Roberto Luis Campanella, Minister of Public Health and Social Action,
Fernando Diego García, Minister of Economy,
Ricardo Luis Sica, Private secretary of the Governor,
Guillermo Marcilese, General Secretary,
Carlos Alberto Lisa, Assessor,
Nora Ormiston, Assessor,
Pedro Alberto Altuna.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot-in-command may suffered an optical illusion on final approach and continued the descent below MDA in marginal weather conditions until impact with water.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 near Puerto Williams: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1979 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

IAI Arava 201

Operator:

Registration:

LV-MRX

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Río Gallegos – Ushuaia

MSN:

YOM:

1979

Location:

Puerto Williams

Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Río Gallegos on a special flight to Ushuaia, carrying five members of the YPF and Hidronor Company who were completing visits of local oil fields. An ILS approach to Ushuaia Airport was initiated from the southeast. While descending, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck a hilly terrain and crashed about 20 km southeast of Ushuaia, about 25 km west of Puerto Williams, on Chilean territory. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Roberto Couceiro, pilot,
Vicente Sanz, copilot,
Guillermo Pérez, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Raúl Agustín Ondarts,
Carlos maria Sureda,
Guillermo Zubarán,
Luis Amílcar Medina,
Osvaldo Rubén Zenobi.

Crash of a Douglas C-54E-1-DO Skymaster in Ushuaia

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

5-T-3

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

27274

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Suffered an accident at Ushuaia Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DC Skymaster in Ushuaia

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

4-T-2

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10301

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed at Ushuaia Airport, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft registered 4-T-2 (ex 0277/CTA-5) was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK in Río Grande: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1951 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

LV-ACY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ushuaia – Río Grande – Buenos Aires

MSN:

12291

YOM:

1944

Location:

Río Grande-Gobernador Ramón Trejo Noel

Tierra del Fuego

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Río Grande Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located few dozen yards short of runway. Three crew members and eight passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Crew:
Miguel Yorio, pilot,
Pablo Abella, copilot,
Jorge Pizarro, radio operator,
Horacio Dalera, flight engineer.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln IIA on Mt Roncagly Ewn: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 694 Lincoln

Operator:

Registration:

B-019

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Río Gallegos – Ushuaia

MSN:

1495

Location:

Mt Roncagly Ewn

Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Ushuaia on a flight from Río Gallegos, the crew informed ground about his position vertical to Lake Fagnano. Few minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 600 meters, the airplane hit the slope of the Mt Roncagly Ewn located near the Almirantazgo fjord, on the south part of Chile. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was discovered by walkers 33 years later, in 1983, in an isolated area located west of Ushuaia.
Crew:
Cpt Bautista Faustino Mendioroz,
1st Lt Raúl Juan Zarzuela,
Lt Emilio Barrios,
Lt Marcos Carlos Modolo,
Lt José Enrique Marcuzzi,
Lt José Antonio Bianchi,
Sgt Adrián Enrique Heynen,
Sgt Adelmo Carmen Amoroso,
Sgt Hector Oscar Ibañez,
Maj Federico Nicolás Pacheco,
Maj Humberto Francisco Losardo.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.