Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 644

Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 644
Accident summary
Date July 19, 1961 (1961-07-19)
Type Severe turbulence
Site 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of Pardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Passengers 60
Crew 7
Injuries 0
Fatalities 67 (all)
Survivors 0
Aircraft type Douglas DC-6
Operator Aerolíneas Argentinas
Tail number LV-ADW
Flight origin Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Destination General Enrique Mosconi International Airport, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina

Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 644 refers to a Douglas DC-6, registration LV-ADW, that on 19 July 1961 was due to operate a domestic scheduled passenger service between Ministro Pistarini International Airport (IATA: EZE, ICAO: SAEZ) and General Enrique Mosconi International Airport (IATA: CRD, ICAO: SAVC), but crashed 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Pardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, half an hour after take-off, owing to severe turbulence during climbout.[1][2] Some reports stated the aircraft was struck by a lightning.[2]

According to the investigation, the plane disintegrated en route after the rupture of one its wings following excessive loads in a zone of turbulence. Both the pilot and the company's flight dispacther contributed to the disaster by misevaluating the weather forecast and choosing an inappropriate flight altitude.[1] All 67 occupants of the aircraft —7 crew and 60 passengers— were killed in the accident,[1][2] which remains the deadliest one the company experienced all through its history.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 1 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "1961 ACCIDENT RECORD" (pdf). Flight: 523. 28 September 1961. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%201419.html. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
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