Beech B90 accident near Punta Del Este, Uy, March 19, 2015
On March 19, 2015 at about 8:38 pm local time, a Beech B90, registered LVCEO, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Punta Del Este (Cpt Corbeta Ca Curbelo Intl airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 10 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- March 19, 2015 · about 8:38 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Del Este, Uruguay · Cpt Corbeta Ca Curbelo Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 10 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech B90 · all B90s on the register
- Registration
- LVCEO · no longer on the register · serial LJ-454
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 19, 2015, about 20:38 Local Time, a Beech Model B90 King Air, Argentine Registration LV-CEO, operated by Drogueria Meta, S.A., impacted water in Laguna del Sauce, Punta del Este, Uruguay. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and flight plan information was unknown for the charter flight which departed from Capitan Corbeta CA Curbelo International Airport (SULS) immediately prior to the accident and was destined for San Fernando Airport (SADF), Republic of Argentina. The two pilots and 8 passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed due to impact forces and post-crash fire. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Comision Investigadora De Accidentes E Incidentes De Aviacion of Uruguay. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Comision Investigadora De Accidentes E Incidentes De Aviacion Av. Wilson Ferreira Aldunate (ex Cno. Carrasco) 5519 Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco Caneiones, Uruguay Telephone: 00598 26014851 Fax: 00598 26014851 E-mail: ciaia@mdn.gub.uy This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Uruguay.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 103,197 hours
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SULS Punta Del Este
- Destination: SAFD Buenos Aires
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 01, 5,249 ft by 125 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 8 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.