Mendoza | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of a Vickers 615 Viking 1B in Junín

Date & Time: May 14, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LV-AFL

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mendoza – Buenos Aires

MSN:

192

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

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 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 Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Banjul – Natal – Buenos Aires – Santiago de Chile

MSN:

1280

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

CS59

Location:

Country:

Region:

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 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:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mendoza – Santiago de Chile

MSN:

10657

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

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 Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Mendoza: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CLC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mendoza - San Juan

MSN:

2602

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

3

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

8

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

11

Circumstances:

At 2052LT on last 15 of January 1944, the Argentinian city of San Juan was hit by an earthquake. The Chilean government was one of the first country to help Argentina and sent one of its team with this Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar of the Chilean National Carrier LAN Chile. The twin engine aircraft was carrying medics, supply and a medical team as well. Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Eduardo Lazo Preuss, pilot,
Eduardo von Bischoffeshausen, copilot,
Fernando Mella Ulloa, engineer.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86Z in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

901

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Mendoza-El Plumerillo

Country:

Region:

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 F.13 in Mendoza

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

101

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Mendoza - Mendoza

MSN:

710

YOM:

1924

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

0

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

0

Circumstances:

Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Mendoza Airport on a local training flight. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild FC-2W2 on Mt Pelado: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1933 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NC9723

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mendoza – Santiago de Chile

MSN:

527

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

2

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

0

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

2

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Mendoza Airport at 0945LT on a cargo flight to Santiago de Chile. About 15 minutes later, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Pelado located some 25 km northwest of Mendoza. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. McMillan,
Mr. Drymond.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

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