Mendoza - San Juan

On January 20, 1944 at 12:00 AM, Mendoza - San Juan experienced a crash involving Lockheed 18 LodeStar, operated by LAN Chile - Linea Aérea Nacional de Chile, with the event recorded near Mendoza Mendoza.

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

11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 8, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.

At 2052LT on last 15 of January 1944, the Argentinian city of San Juan was hit by an earthquake. The Chilean government was one of the first country to help Argentina and sent one of its team with this Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar of the Chilean National Carrier LAN Chile. The twin engine aircraft was carrying medics, supply and a medical team as well. Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All 11 occupants were killed. Crew: Eduardo Lazo Preuss, pilot, Eduardo von Bischoffeshausen, copilot, Fernando Mella Ulloa, engineer.

Aircraft reference details include registration CC-CLC, MSN 2602, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -32.8875°, -68.8359°.