| Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 644 | |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Date: | 19 July 1961 |
| Type: | Severe turbulence |
| Site: | 12km (07miles) west of Pardo, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Coordinates: | -36.2328°N -59.5156°W |
| Aircraft Type: | Douglas DC-6 |
| Operator: | Aerolíneas Argentinas |
| Tail Number: | LV-ADW |
| Origin: | Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Destination: | General Enrique Mosconi International Airport, Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina |
| Passengers: | 60 |
| Crew: | 7 |
| Fatalities: | 67 |
Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 644 was a scheduled flight operated by the Douglas DC-6, registration LV-ADW, on 19 July 1961 which was due to operate a domestic scheduled passenger service between Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires City and General Enrique Mosconi International Airport in Comodoro Rivadavia, but crashed 12km (07miles) west of Pardo, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, half an hour after takeoff, owing to severe turbulence during climb out. This aircraft had been originally named 'Presidente Peron' but by 1956-57 had been renamed 'General San Martin'.[1] Some reports stated the aircraft was struck by lightning.[2]
According to the investigation, the plane disintegrated en route after the rupture of one its wings following excessive loads in a zone of turbulence. Both the pilot and the company's flight dispatcher contributed to the disaster by misevaluating the weather forecast and choosing an inappropriate flight altitude. All 67 occupants of the aircraft - 7 crew and 60 passengers - were killed in the accident,[3] which remains the deadliest one the company experienced all through its history.[4]
As of 2024, Flight 644 remains the deadliest aviation disaster in Argentine history.[5]