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

On August 28, 1975 at 01:05 PM, San Miguel de Tucumán – La Rioja – San Juan – El Palomar experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-130 Hercules, operated by Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina, with the event recorded near San Miguel de Tucumán-Teniente Benjamin Matienzo Tucumán.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

121 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 115 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 5.0%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 114, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration TC-62, MSN 4309, year of manufacture 1968.