What happened
While flying from Mendoza toward Santiago de Chile, the crew of a four-engine aircraft christened 'Star Dust' encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. The flight path took them over the Argentinian Andes, where they faced heavy snowfall and intense winds reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h. During this phase, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet when it struck the slope of Mount Tupungaro.
Because the plane failed to arrive at its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated immediately. However, these efforts were suspended after several days without any trace of the wreckage or the occupants. It was not until 2000, approximately 53 years after the incident, that an official mission led by Argentinian Army officers and scientists located the site. The team recovered limited debris and three bodies, which were subsequently repatriated to the valley.
Findings
Initial investigations in 1947 left the cause obscure due to the absence of wreckage evidence, though severe icing was considered a potential factor. A later investigation commission involving Argentinian and British experts concluded that the accident was likely caused by a premature descent initiated by the crew. The presence of strong headwinds at high altitude significantly reduced the aircraft's ground speed, a condition the crew did not fully appreciate. Combined with poor visibility, this led the crew to begin descending without being able to distinguish the mountainous terrain below.