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8 fatalities

Airplane Crashes on ILS Approach to Ushuaia, All Eight Occupants Killed (LV-MRX)

Puerto Williams, ChileLanding (descent or approach)

On November 21, 1979, an IAI Arava 201 (registration LV-MRX) operated by Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Argentinas - YPFA was involved in an aviation accident near Puerto Williams, Chile during landing or approach. 8 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft on a special flight from Río Gallegos to Ushuaia crashed during an ILS approach in poor weather, striking hilly terrain 20 km southeast of Ushuaia in Chile. All eight occupants died.

Accident Details

An aircraft departed Río Gallegos on a special flight to Ushuaia, carrying five members of the YPF and Hidronor Company who were visiting local oil fields. The crew initiated an ILS approach to Ushuaia Airport from the southeast. While descending, the airplane encountered poor weather conditions and struck hilly terrain, crashing approximately 20 km southeast of Ushuaia and about 25 km west of Puerto Williams, on Chilean territory. The aircraft was destroyed, and all eight occupants were killed.

Occupants

The crew consisted of pilot Roberto Couceiro, copilot Vicente Sanz, and flight engineer Guillermo Pérez. The passengers were Raúl Agustín Ondarts, Carlos María Sureda, Guillermo Zubarán, Luis Amílcar Medina, and Osvaldo Rubén Zenobi.

Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Nov 1979 IAI Arava 201 accident near Puerto Williams, Chile?

An aircraft on a special flight from Río Gallegos to Ushuaia crashed during an ILS approach in poor weather, striking hilly terrain 20 km southeast of Ushuaia in Chile. All eight occupants died.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Nov 1979 IAI Arava 201 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Nov 1979 involved an IAI Arava 201, registration LV-MRX, operated by Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Argentinas - YPFA, at Puerto Williams, Chile.

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