Santa Cruz | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft was completing a charter flight from Coyhaique to Chile Chico with an intermediate stop in Balmaceda where six additional passengers boarded. The airplane departed Balmaceda Airport runway 27 at 1310LT for the second leg to Chile Chico. About 16 minutes into the flight, while cruising in marginal weather conditions, radar contact was lost after the airplane crashed in an uninhabited area. The wreckage was found in the late afternoon in Meseta del Guenguel. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control following an excessive accumulation of ice on the airplane.

Final Report:

Crash of a Swearingen SA226AC Metro II in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1998 at 1445 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA226 Metro II

Operator:

Kaikén Linéas Aéreas

Registration:

LV-WDV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lago Argentino - Río Gallegos

MSN:

TC-271

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lago Argentino Airport, a red warning light came on in the cockpit panel, informing the crew about the incomplete retraction of the left main gear. The crew proceeded to a visual inspection and after confirmation that the left main gear was properly secured in its wheel well, the crew decided to continue to Río Gallegos. On approach, the left main gear did not deploy. After the crew failed to extend it manually, he raised the other landing gear and completed a belly landing. On short final, just prior to flare, both engines were shut down and their propellers were feathered. The aircraft landed on its belly, slid for few dozen metres and came to rest. All seven occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew completed a belly landing after it was impossible to extend the left main gear due to the deformation and fracture of the brace support of the gear's extension system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The left main gear suffered previous incident,
- Marginal weather conditions with rain falls and unfavorable wind component,
- The crew started operations with know deficiencies,
- Inappropriate maintenance and technical controls.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1965

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

B-040

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1459

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1170

Circumstances:

Crashed during takeoff and came to rest in flames. All six crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1964 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

5-T-2

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Ushuaia – Río Gallegos – Buenos Aires

MSN:

3087

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Río Gallegos Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a snow covered field. Both engines number three and four were partially sheared off and three passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the wings were contaminated with frost and that the airplane has not been deiced prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Río Gallegos

Date & Time: May 20, 1955 at 0820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

LV-ACQ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Bahía Blanca – Trelew – Comodoro Rivadavia – Puerto Deseado – Rio Gallegos

MSN:

13159

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was attempting a night takeoff on the last leg of a circuit begun two days earlier in Ezeiza, with stops at all aerodromes on the Atlantic seaboard. After a run of about 600 meters, it lifted in a gentle curve to the left but hit the ground again off the runway, skidding to the right. The impact broke the left landing gear strut and the aircraft came to rest after travelling about 96 meters. A fire broke out in the left engine nacelle and could not be put out because of the lack of adequate fire fighting equipment at the aerodrome. No injuries were sustained by the four crew members and one passenger on board at the time of the accident (0820LT).

Probable cause:

The probable cause of this accident was the fall cf the aircraft when the pilot decided to discontinue a take-off which he considered abnormal and which is attributed to the fact that the propeller was probably feathered, for undetermined reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Puerto Deseado

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

LV-AGE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

20083

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The DC-3 approached fast and touched down on its right gear some 200 m past the runway threshold. After traveling 120 m on the right wheel, the DC-3 lifted off briefly and touched down again 120 m further on, again on the right gear. The left wheel touched down after 30 m. The aircraft overran the runway, ending up in a 3 m deep ditch. Weather was given as 1500-2000 m visibility, ceiling 300, wind WSW 2 knots, runway rather muddy.
Source: ASN

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to the error of the pilot in calculating the landing distance, made unfavourable meteorological conditions, with the result that the aircraft ran over the perimeter fence of the field and fell into a trench.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CU Commando in Los Antiguos

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CYA-141

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

26445

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Balmaceda-Teniente Vidal Airport, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions at destination and diverted to Chile Chico Airport. While approaching Chile Chico, the crew encountered poor visibility and the pilot in command decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft crash landed in Los Antiguos, east of Chile Chico. While all 11 occupants were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-6B Goose off Puerto Santa Cruz: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-21A Goose

Operator:

Registration:

PGM-2

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rio Gallegos - Rio Gallegos

MSN:

1145

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

The seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Río Santa Cruz off Puerto Santa Cruz. A dead body was found five days later, on September 19, and a second dead body a day later. Unfortunately, no trace of the others nor the aircraft was found.
Crew:
Lt José Jubany, pilot,
Cpl Angel Cruz, radio operator,
Cpl Antonio Micaelan,
Cpl Ramón Gonzáles,
Ens Roberto Balestra.

Crash of a Heinkel HD.24 on the Perito Moreno Glacier: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel HD.24

Operator:

Registration:

D-1313

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

271

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Named 'Tsingtau', the aircraft was carrying two crew members among them the famous German aviator Günther Plüschow. They were performing their second attempt to fly to the south Patagonia, between Chile and Argentina. While cruising over the region of the Perito Moreno Glacier, some 78 km from El Calafate, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants.
Crew:
Gunther Plüschow, pilot,
Ernst Dreblow, mechanic.

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