3 fatalities

1990-11-26: Grumman S-2 Tracker (0705/2-AS-26) — Argentinian Navy - Armada Argentina — Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora, Argentina

Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora, ArgentinaLanding (descent or approach)

On November 26, 1990, a Grumman S-2 Tracker (registration 0705/2-AS-26) operated by Argentinian Navy - Armada Argentina was involved in an aviation accident near Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora, Argentina during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during an emergency landing attempt near Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781212419Data APIEditorial standards

Three crew members died when their aircraft crashed while attempting an emergency landing during approach to Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport.

What happened

A military aircraft was on final approach to Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport when the situation deteriorated rapidly. The flight crew initiated an emergency landing procedure, though the specific trigger for this decision remains unexplained in available records. During the descent phase, the aircraft failed to maintain controlled flight and impacted the ground short of the runway threshold.

The crash occurred while the plane was still in the terminal area, attempting to divert from its planned landing path. Despite the emergency measures taken by the crew, the outcome was catastrophic. The aircraft did not survive the impact, resulting in immediate fatalities for everyone on board.

Findings

Investigations into the incident confirm that all three individuals aboard perished in the accident. The crew consisted of Lieutenant Javier Diamante, Lieutenant José Gahn, and Corporal Gustavo Marquez. No survivors were reported from the wreckage. The exact mechanical or environmental causes leading to the loss of control during the emergency maneuver were not detailed in the primary source material provided for this record.

The incident highlights the risks associated with emergency procedures during the critical approach phase of flight. The inability to complete the landing safely suggests a complex failure scenario, although the root cause is not explicitly defined in the available data. This event is recorded as a total loss of the aircraft and its personnel.

Probable cause

Loss of control during an emergency landing attempt near Bahía Blanca-Comandante Espora Airport