Incident Details
The aircraft was on a flight returning to El Palomar Airbase in Buenos Aires, with intermediate stops in La Rioja and San Juan, carrying 114 policemen from the Argentine Federal Police after an intervention in Tucumán Province. During the takeoff roll, after covering 800 meters and reaching a speed of 200 km/h, the pilot initiated rotation. At that moment, an explosion occurred on the runway surface approximately 100 meters ahead. While climbing to an altitude of 12–15 meters, the aircraft was struck by debris from the explosion. Control was subsequently lost, and the aircraft crashed in flames about 400 meters further down the runway.
Casualties and Damage
All 115 occupants were evacuated from the wreckage. Twenty-nine individuals sustained injuries. Six policemen were killed. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash and subsequent fire.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause of the accident was loss of control during takeoff following a bomb explosion that had been placed on the runway pavement. Investigators determined that the explosive device was a conical-tip charge installed below the runway surface, intended to detonate when the C-130 was at full throttle during takeoff. The plan, code-named "Operation Gardel," was orchestrated by the Peronist guerrilla organization Montoneros. The bomb was placed near the middle of the runway, approximately 1,100 meters from the northern end and 1,000 meters from the southern end, utilizing a disused sewer leading to a storm drain. A cable was laid through a 250-meter tunnel connecting the charge to a 12-volt battery from a parked vehicle, with the switch to be activated from a nearby pit.