What happened
On the evening of the accident, LAPA flight 3142 was prepared for a scheduled service from Buenos Aires-Jorge Newbery Airport to Córdoba, Argentina. During the pre-flight preparations, a mechanic was transferring fuel from the central tank to the wing tanks. Upon the captain's arrival, the fuel transfer process was halted.
During the period leading up to departure, the flight crew and the purser engaged in extensive personal discussions regarding various private difficulties. These conversations continued through the checklist execution, the pushback process, and the engine start sequence. The aircraft's departure was further delayed by heavy arrival traffic and other aircraft ahead on the taxiway. During the final wait on the runway, crew members were observed smoking in the cockpit while continuing their personal dialogue.
At 20:53, the Boeing 737-200 began its takeoff roll on runway 13. During the acceleration, the takeoff warning system activated, notifying the crew that the flaps had not been properly configured. The crew did not respond to this alert and proceeded with the takeoff. After reaching rotation speed, the aircraft entered a stall, triggering the stick shaker. The plane impacted an ILS antenna, a perimeter fence, a bus shelter, two cars, two excavators, and an embankment, which subsequently ignited. The accident resulted in 65 fatalities, including the three crew members, 60 passengers, and two individuals in a vehicle.
Findings
Investigation into the sequence of events revealed that the crew failed to set the flaps to the required takeoff position. This error was attributed to the crew's preoccupation with personal matters, which caused them to mismanage the checklist procedures. The crew also failed to react to the audible takeoff warning system during the takeoff roll.