Crash of a Lockheed 18-56-23 LodeStar in La Para

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N66549
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2577
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an illegal cargo flight. En route, the left engine caught fire and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a field and came to rest in flames. While all three occupants were able to evacuate, the airplane and its load were destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando near Olacapato Chico

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZP-CAP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
26658
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a desert area located near Olacapato Chico, some 40 km northwest of San Antonio de los Cobres. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 1 in Nueva Escocia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-66
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
04145
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Villa Reynolds Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in a prairie located about 30 km west of Villa Reynolds Airport. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Puerto Lobos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1966 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-GLE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio Grande – Rio Gallegos – Buenos Aires
MSN:
22534
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
900
Aircraft flight hours:
24589
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a cargo flight from Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego) to Ezeiza Airport, with an intermediate stop at Rio Gallegos (Santa Cruz). An IFR flight plan was filed for an off-airway overwater flight directly from Rio Gallegos to Ezeiza. The pilot-in-command stated that at 1700 hours and shortly after passing abeam of Comodoro Rivadavia he noticed that the No. 1 engine oil was low, the indicator reading approximately 23 US gallons. It should be pointed out that, although the pilot testified to being already beyond Comodoro Rivadavia at 1700 hours, he in fact reported abeam of that position to control tower of Comodoro Rivadavia Airport at 1720 hours. Thinking that the instrument might not be functioning correctly, he checked it while the mechanic looked out of the window but saw no signs of leakage. The check revealed that the engine was consuming a gallon of oil every 15 minutes. Temperature and pressure were normal. Under the circumstances, he decided to land at Trelew for an engine check and oil refill, his calculations having indicated that he would lose four gallons in the process and still have 17 remaining on landing. Meanwhile, the mechanic, who was still watching the engine, noticed oil flames which confirmed the leakage of oil. The pilot believed that he would sight Trelew before nightfall, but that he would have to make a night landing. After a few minutes the low oil pressure warning light for No. 2 engine came on, simultaneously the temperature rose and the pressure indicator oscillated, so he gave orders to stop the engine and feather the propeller. It was then 1735 hours and he was flying visually, having passed through the cloud layer over the area. The sun was no longer visible. He decided that there was no other alternative but to continue towards Trelew and then to find a landing strip, and at 2 700 m started to descend in order to cool No. 1 engine which had heated to 1100 on account of the greater power combined with slower speed. He descended gradually to 1 200 m to cool the engine as much as possible. He then gave orders to restart No. 2 engine, which was done, but it seized. He again had it stopped and the propeller feathered, and at this juncture considered the situation extremely serious since owing to height and speed loss he would reach Trelew after 1835 hours. At 450 m after calculating the cargo and fuel weight, the pilot ordered the greatest possible amount of cargo to be jettisoned and some 1 200 kg were thrown out. At 300 m he decided to make for the coast and try to ditch in the sea with only the port engine operating. The night was very dark and the shore, which lay to the north, could not be seen distinctly. Visibility was better towards 'the south. After heading out over the sea and making a 2700 turn to the left, he decided, as the aircraft descended, to come down parallel to the coast as close to it as possible taking care not to approach too close to avoid hitting any rocks. The passengers were briefed for the emergency and a door was left open, since at the moment of impact both the co-pilot and engineer would be occupied in cutting the battery, generators, magnetos, fuel cocks and operating the landing gear. With the lights extended and turned on, the pilot was able to see the water but not judge his height. When the altimeter registered zero, he started to draw back the control column and cut out the one operating engine until he realized the aircraft had hit the water. It travelled forward some 200 m, veered round to the right and came to a stop. It hit some rocks in the process losing the port engine, and other serious damage was caused by the uneven rocky bottom. The time was about 1830 hours and, according to the relevant tables, it had been completely dark since 1811 hours. The aircraft's position was 650 18' W, 43O 52' S. After ascertaining that no one had been injured, the 5-seat life raft was inflated. Owing to the lack of adequate life-saving equipment for everyone, the occupants of the aircraft reached the shore with the greatest difficulty, some in the life raft, others clinging to the sides. The engineer took an oxygen flask, jumped into the sea and disappeared from sight dragged down by the current, and in the darkness he could not be found. The cabin attendant and one passenger, who had decided to remain on top of the aircraft, left it when the tide fell enough for them to walk to shore. One crew member disappeared while trying to swim to shore. Damage to the aircraft and powerplant was estimated at 90% resulting from impact and subsequent immersion. The aircraft's cargo of hides and wool was a total loss.
Probable cause:
Decision to continue a flight with both engines impaired until ditching at night became inevitable, instead of making an emergency daytime landing on any of the various runways in the area at a time when the situation made it clear that this operation was inevitable. The pilot's action in planning the flight and in continuing it in the above- described circumstances was deficient and imprudent. He was carrying passengers in a cargo aircraft in defiance of existing regulations and in spite of the notification of such prohibition by the airline. This breach of regulations was further aggravated by the fact that a person without proper licence had been permitted to act as mechanic on board. For this latter infraction, the airline owning the aircraft should also be held responsible.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Río Cuarto

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-GFW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio Grande – Río Gallegos – Río Cuarto – Buenos Aires
MSN:
26961
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The cargo flight Rio Grande - Río Gallegos - Río Cuarto - Buenos Aires, which had to be completed in daylight, ran late due to delays in the loading of 99 sheep. It was dark outside by the time the aircraft left Río Gallegos. The destination had been changed to Villa Reynolds, which had electric lighting instead of kerosene putts at Río Cuarto. Although weather was worsening, the crew didn't change to an IFR flight plan. Various attempts to contact Villa Reynolds failed so the crew decided to divert to Río Cuarto by following a roadway, illuminated from time to time by lightning flashes and headlights of automobile traffic. The crew managed to find the airport and overflew it first. The airport employees meanwhile weren't able to keep the kerosene putts alight due to rain and wind. Four vehicles were dispatched to mark the runway threshold with their headlights. The crew got lost and asked the controller to determine their position relative to the airport by the noise of the engines. While attempting a second run over the field to locate the runway, the aircraft descended into the ground and slid on flat ground for 300 m, broke a wire fence and came to rest in a cornfield 5 km NE of the airport. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Collision with terrain while trying to land in adverse and unstable conditions due to continuation of the flight at night in known and visible adverse meteorological conditions, aggravated by the lack of an alternate aerodrome or sufficient endurance to effect a diversion.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-040
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1459
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1170
Circumstances:
Crashed during takeoff and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln IIA in Salta

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-020
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago del Estero - Salta
MSN:
1496
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1760
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Santiago del Estero to Salta-El Aybal Airport. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no injuries among the four crew members but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. It is reported that sudden gust of crosswinds affected flight control after touchdown.

Crash of a Morane-Saulnier M.S.760A Paris I near Formosa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1965
Operator:
Registration:
E-228
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Formosa - Formosa
MSN:
A-16
YOM:
1962
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Formosa-El Pucú Airport while completing a local training flight. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was injured.

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

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-83
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Reconquista - Reconquista
MSN:
04214
YOM:
1948
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reconquista Airport for a training mission. An unexpected situation was encountered en route, forcing the crew to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located near Sanavirones and came to rest. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Juan Carlos Bisana,
Mr. Andrada.

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.