Military aircraft crash near La Angostura

13 fatalities • La Angostura, Argentina • Flight

A military reconnaissance flight crashed into a mountainside near La Angostura after being struck by ground fire, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board.

What happened

A mission to locate rebel forces in the western region of San Miguel de Tucumán ended in tragedy when an aircraft crashed into a mountain slope near La Angostura. The flight had originally departed from Córdoba and was performing reconnaissance duties at a low altitude when it encountered enemy resistance.

During its low-level cruise, the aircraft was hit by automatic weapon fire from the ground. This impact caused significant damage to the tail section and the rudder, rendering the plane uncontrollable. As the aircraft lost altitude, it struck the terrain, resulting in a fatal impact. The wreckage of the aircraft was discovered by search teams one day after the incident.

Findings

The crash resulted in 13 fatalities, including several high-ranking military officers. The investigation determined that the primary reason for the loss of control was that the aircraft was struck by ground fire from automatic weapons during its low-altitude flight path.

Probable cause

The aircraft was brought down after being hit by automatic weapon fire from the ground.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1975-01-05 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident near La Angostura, Argentina?

A military reconnaissance flight crashed into a mountainside near La Angostura after being struck by ground fire, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 1975-01-05 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 13 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1975-01-05 involved a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration AE-259, operated by Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina, at La Angostura, Argentina.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft was brought down after being hit by automatic weapon fire from the ground.

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