What happened
During an afternoon mission for the Ministry of Agriculture, a three-engine aircraft was conducting locust control operations in the province of Tucumán. The flight departed from San Miguel de Tucumán Airport with the intent of spraying plantations located in San Pedro de Colalao. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was transporting two pilots and three passengers, while also carrying a significant load of fuel and chemical supplies, including 1,000 liters of liquid locust spray.
After successfully completing an initial pass over the target area, the pilot attempted a second low-altitude pass. During the execution of a turn at a low altitude, the left wing of the aircraft made contact with a tree. This impact caused the aircraft to stall and subsequently crash. The accident resulted in four fatalities, including both pilots and two passengers, while one person survived with injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the impact.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary reason for the accident was the pilot's insufficient technical experience regarding low-level spraying maneuvers in mountainous environments. This lack of expertise led to a failure to maintain enough clearance from the terrain. Additional contributing elements identified include the specific nature of the flight operations, the difficult topography of the area, and the characteristics of the aircraft used for the mission.