The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ERA14WA026 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Luscombe 8 - E accident near Buenos Aires, Ar, October 14, 2013

On October 14, 2013 at about 8:34 pm local time, a Luscombe 8 - E, registered LVRTS, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Buenos Aires. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
October 14, 2013 · about 8:34 pm local time
Place
Buenos Aires, Argentina · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were killed.
Weather
instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
Aircraft
Luscombe 8 - E · all 8 - Es on the register
Registration
LVRTS · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules

The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record

On October 14, 2013, about 1134 coordinated universal time, a Luscombe 8E, Argentina registration LV-RTS, was substantially damaged, during descent in thick fog, when it impacted terrain in an industrial park. The flight had departed Zarate Airport (SATE), Buenos Aires Province, Argentina and was enroute to Chascomus Airport (SMUS), Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, when the accident occurred. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Argentina. Further information can be obtained from: Junta de Investigaciones de Accidentes de Aviación Civil 1370 Belgrano Avenue 11th Floor Buenos Aires, República Argentina C1093AAO Fax - 54-11-4381-6333 This report is for informational purposes, and contains only information released by the Government of Argentina.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.

The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. VFR encounter with IMC during approach defining event
  2. Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach

Pilot

No details recorded.

The aircraft

  • Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: SATE Zarate
  • Destination: SMUS Chascomus

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.

Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.