Buenos Aires – Bahia Blanca – Río Grande – Ushuaia

On September 26, 1988 at 11:36 AM, Buenos Aires – Bahia Blanca – Río Grande – Ushuaia experienced a crash involving Boeing 737-200, operated by Aerolineas Argentinas, with the event recorded near Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

62 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 62 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 56, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While descending to Ushuaia Airport, the crew was informed about the weather conditions at destination: wind 230° at 12 knots, runway 16 in use, visibility 30 km, 3/8 SC at 1,200 meters, 2/8 CU at 1,500 meters, temperature 9° C, QNH 998,4 mb. After passing 8,000 feet on descent, the crew was cleared to land on runway 16 but the captain prefered to land on runway 34 as the last report indicated a wind from 360° gusting at 20 knots. Therefore, the crew was informed about possible windshear on approach. At an excessive speed of 140 knots (instead of the 128 knots as prescribed), the aircraft landed hard on runway 34 (positive acceleration of 1,89 G) and bounced. Out of control, it veered off runway, went down an embankment and came to rest in the sea (about two meters of water). All 62 occupants were evacuated, among them 13 were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration LV-LIU, MSN 20964, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -54.7992°, -68.2949°.