Tucumán | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft departed San Miguel de Tucumán-Teniente Benjamin Matienzo Airport at noon on a positioning flight to a private airstrip located in Estancia La Juliana, 75 km from there. Before departure, the crew was unable to add more fuel in the tanks because they did not have sufficient cash. At Estancia La Juliana, the crew waited for two hours before the owner of the farm was taken to another of his property in Estancia El Descanso, about 70 km from there. Again, the crew waited for two hours before the final flight back to San Miguel de Tucumán. The return flight was completed under VFR mode at an altitude of 3,500 feet. While approaching San Miguel de Tucumán-Teniente Benjamin Matienzo Airport, the crew declared an emergency after both engines stopped. In a flaps and gear up configuration, he attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft impacted a tree and crashed in an open field located near El Chañar, about 13 km northeast of the runway 20 threshold. All three occupants were injured, two seriously, and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight due to a fuel exhaustion. Poor flight planning on part of the crew who failed to correctly calculate the amount of fuel necessary for all day trips.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules in San Miguel de Tucumán: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1975 at 1305 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

TC-62

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

San Miguel de Tucumán – La Rioja – San Juan – El Palomar

MSN:

4309

YOM:

1968

Location:

San Miguel de Tucumán-Teniente Benjamin Matienzo

Tucumán

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

114

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was flying back to El Palomar Airbase in Buenos Aires with intermediate stops in La Rioja and San Juan, carrying 114 policemen (Argentine Federal Police) who were returning to their base after an intervention in the Tucumán Province. During the takeoff roll, after a course of 800 meters and at a speed of 200 km/h, the pilot started the rotation when an explosion occurred on the runway surface approximately 100 meters in front of him. While climbing to a height of some 12-15 meters, the aircraft was hit by debris and the denotation. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in flames 400 meters further. 115 occupants were evacuated, 29 of them were injured. Six policemen were killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff following a bomb explosion that was placed on the runway pavement. Investigations determined that a plan was to set off an explosive charge in the form of a conical tip placed below the runway when the C-130 was to be at full throttle during takeoff. Named 'Operation Gardel', the action was planned by the Peronist guerilla organization 'Montoneros'. Near the middle of the runway some 1,100 meters away from the northern end and 1,000 from the southern, a disused sewer led to a storm drain. A cable was laid through the 250 meter tunnel, emerging from the storm drain and connecting the charge to the 12V battery of a parked vehicle. The switch would be activated from a nearby pit.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 200 near La Angostura: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1975

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

AE-259

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Miguel de Tucumán - San Miguel de Tucumán

MSN:

140

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane flew from Córdoba to San Miguel de Tucumán and was later engaged in a reconnaissance mission over the west region of San Miguel de Tucumán to localize rebels. While cruising at a relative low level, the airplane was struck by ground fire (automatic weapon) and the tail and rudder went hit. Out of control, the airplane lost height and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near La Angostura. The wreckage was found a day later and all 13 occupants were killed, among them high ranking officers.
Occupants:
Gen Enrique Eugenio Salgado,
Br Gen Francisco Ricardo Agustín Muñoz,
Col Eduardo Wilfredo Cano,
Lt Col Oscar Rubén Bevione,
Lt Col Pompilio Schilardi,
Lt Col Pedro Santiago Petrecca,
Maj Roberto Dante David Biscardi,
Maj Pedro Antonio Zelaya,
Maj Héctor Abel Sánchez,
Maj Aldo Emilio Pepa,
Cpt Roberto Carlos Aguilera,
1st Lt Carlos Eduardo Correa,
Sgt Aldo Ramón Linares.
Source: https://aerospotter.blogspot.com

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in San Pedro de Colalao: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1953 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

LV-ZBI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Spraying (Agricultural)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Miguel de Tucumán - San Miguel de Tucumán

MSN:

J4075

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5032

Captain / Total hours on type:

50.00

Circumstances:

The crew left San Miguel de Tucumán Airport in the afternoon to perform a locust spraying mission in San Pedro de Colalao, province of Tucumán, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture. The three engine aircraft was carrying three passengers, two pilots, 2,400 liters of gasoline, 180 liters of oil and 1,000 liters of liquid locust spray. After an uneventful first pass over the plantations, the pilot-in-command completed a circuit in an attempt to make a second low pass when, during a turn at low height, the left wing hit a tree. The aircraft stalled and crashed. Both pilots and two passengers were killed while the fifth occupants was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The investigating authority attributed the accident to lack of technical experience on the part of the pilot in carrying out a spraying flight over mountainous terrain, resulting in his failure to allow adequate terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the type of operation, the nature of the area flown over and the type of aircraft used.

Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 1A in Burruyacú: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1949 at 1830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

T-28

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

El Palomar – Salta

MSN:

12750

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and the captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft hit a tree and crashed on a hilly terrain. Three crew members and three passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.