Narrative:
The DC-6 departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza at 07:31 for an IFR flight to Comodoro Rivadavia. When climbing to the cruising altitude of 4800 metres, the aircraft encountered some heavy turbulence after flying through Cumulonimbus clouds. The airplane broke up and crashed.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The aircraft disintegrated in flight due to rupture of the right wing following the application of loads in excess of the design loads, in a zone of extremely violent turbulence. A contributing factor was insufficient evaluation of the forecast, by both the aircraft captain and by the airline dispatcher, which resulted in the choice of an inappropriate flight altitude."
Wing failure
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 19 July 1961 |
| Time: | 08:00 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-6 |
| Operator: | Aerolineas Argentinas |
| Registration: | LV-ADW |
| MSN: | 43136/137 |
| First flight: | 1948 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 20211 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB16 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 60 / Occupants: 60 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 67 / Occupants: 67 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 12 km (7.5 mls) W of Pardo, BA ( Argentina)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, BA (EZE/SAEZ), Argentina |
| Comodoro Rivadavia Airport, CB (CRD/SAVC), Argentina | |
| Flightnumber: | AR644 |
The DC-6 departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza at 07:31 for an IFR flight to Comodoro Rivadavia. When climbing to the cruising altitude of 4800 metres, the aircraft encountered some heavy turbulence after flying through Cumulonimbus clouds. The airplane broke up and crashed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The aircraft disintegrated in flight due to rupture of the right wing following the application of loads in excess of the design loads, in a zone of extremely violent turbulence. A contributing factor was insufficient evaluation of the forecast, by both the aircraft captain and by the airline dispatcher, which resulted in the choice of an inappropriate flight altitude."
Classification:
TurbulenceWing failure
Loss of control
Sources:
» Informe Final de Accidente de Aviación Nro. 1526 / Junta de Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, BA to Comodoro Rivadavia Airport, CB as the crow flies is 1429 km (893 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, BA to Comodoro Rivadavia Airport, CB as the crow flies is 1429 km (893 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Argentina
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Douglas DC-6
- 704 built
- 49th loss
- 35th fatal accident
- 2nd worst accident (at the time)
- 8th worst accident (currently)
Argentina- The worst accident
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