Region
South America

Crash of a Vickers 615 Viking 1B in Junín

Date & Time: May 14, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
LV-AFL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mendoza – Buenos Aires
MSN:
192
YOM:
1947
Location:
Junín
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight from Mendoza to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport. Enroute, the pilot encountered engine problems and decided to divert to Junín Airport. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL Skytrain in Bahía Blanca

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
T-18
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20406
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bahía Blanca
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the aircraft hit unknown obstacles. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Vickers 491 Viking 1B in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
T-4
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
161
YOM:
1946
Location:
Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III on Mt Tupungato: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1947 at 1441 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGWH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
London – Lisbon – Banjul – Natal – Buenos Aires – Santiago de Chile
MSN:
1280
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
CS59
Location:
Mt Tupungato
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
1971
Captain / Total hours on type:
473.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2129
Copilot / Total hours on type:
127
Aircraft flight hours:
1655
Circumstances:
After passing over Mendoza, enroute to Santiago de Chile, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong winds (up to 180 km/h) and heavy snow falls. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star Dust' hit the slope of Mt Tupungaro located in the Argentinian Andes. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. About 53 years later, in 2000, an official mission conducted by Argentinian Army Officers and Scientists was organized to find the aircraft. Few debris and three bodies were found and repatriated down to the valley.
Probable cause:
In 1947, through lack of evidence due to no wreckage having been found, the cause of the accident remained obscure. The possibility of severe icing cannot be ignored. Later, in 2001, an investigation commission conducted by Argentinian and British experts concluded that the accident was probably caused by a premature descent on part of the crew due to strong head winds. The presence of strong winds at high altitude reduced the speed of the aircraft and the crew was not aware of these winds. Due to lack of visibility, the crew started the descent and was not able to distinguish the mountains.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Morón AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1947 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
LV-XIH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Morón - Morón
MSN:
1366
YOM:
1946
Location:
Morón AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of pilots and engineers was completing a test flight in Morón AFB following engine maintenance. After touchdown, the aircraft collided with a tank-truck that was mistakenly on the runway. The truck and the airplane exploded. Two crew members and the truck driver were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster in EL Palomar AFB: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1947 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
T-44
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Palomar - Morón
MSN:
7463
YOM:
1944
Location:
El Palomar AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the captain elected to rotate but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew attempted to make an emergency braking procedure but the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining runway, overran, hit several people who came to the airport to assist to the departure of the aircraft, crossed a road and came to rest in flames. Fourteen occupants plus three people on the ground were killed. Five other occupants plus eight people on the ground were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. The crew was on a flight to the nearby airbase of Morón to take part to the commemoration of the death of the Argentinian General José de San Martin in 1850. About 200 aircraft from the Argentinian Air Force were taking part to this event.

Crash of a Vickers 620 Viking I in El Palomar AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
T-1
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
113
YOM:
1946
Location:
El Palomar AFB
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from El Palomar AFB, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground about an engine failure and elected to return. As the captain realized it was impossible to reach his departure point, he attempted an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft hit the ground, overturned and crashed. All three crew members and two passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC near Mendoza

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1946 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72552
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mendoza – Santiago de Chile
MSN:
10657
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mendoza
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in flames on the slope of Cerro El Pelado located about 30 km northwest of Mendoza. All nine occupants were rescued, seven of them were seriously injured. All crew were members were attached to the American Mission in Panama and were engaged in an equipment delivery mission to all US Embassies in South America.
Photos Policia de Mendoza via Lt Col John Martin, USAF

Crash of a Sud-Ouest SO.95 Corse in General Pacheco: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1946 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
SNCASO SO.95 Corse
Operator:
Registration:
F-BBAP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Fernando - San Fernando
MSN:
001
YOM:
1946
Location:
San Fernando de Apure
Buenos Aires province
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a demo flight at San Fernando Airport. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field, killing both occupants.
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