Narrative:The Curtiss departed Rio Gallegos for an off-airway over water flight directly to Buenos Aires. At 17:00 the crew noticed a drop in no. 1 oil quantity. They were near Comodore Rivadavia Airport at that moment. Investigation revealed that the engine was consuming 1 gallon per 15 minutes of flight (with 23 gallons left). Temperature and pressure were normal, so the crew decided to land a Trelew. The pilot believed that he would spot Trelew before nightfall, but that he would have to make a night landing there. A little later the no. 2 engine oil pressure dropped, combined with a rise in temperature. The engine was stopped and the prop feathered. A descent out of 2700 m was started in order to cool down the no. 1 engine. At 1200 m the crew tried to restart the no. 2 engine, but didn't succeed. The C-46 kept descending and at 450 m height 1200 kg of cargo were jettisoned. When the altitude became critical, it was decided to ditch the plane near the coast. The plane hit some rocks during while traveling through the water.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Decision to continue a flight with both engines impaired until ditching at night became inevitable, instead of making an emergency daytime landing on any of the various runways in the area at a time when the situation made it clear that this operation was inevitable."
Classification:
Ditching
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 88-AN/74
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 Río Gallegos Internacional Airport, SC to Buenos Aires/Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport, BA as the crow flies is 2051 km (1282 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.