What happened
A scheduled flight traveling from Port-au-Prince to Havana, with an intermediate stop in Santiago de Cuba, was involved in a fatal accident during its departure from Antonio Maceo Airport. The aircraft, a twin engine aircraft, departed Santiago de Cuba at 16:44 local time carrying 61 passengers and 7 crew members. After takeoff, the crew received clearance to climb to 18,000 feet, and later, at 17:36, was cleared to reach 20,000 feet.
As the aircraft ascended, environmental conditions changed, with the Total Air Temperature falling from +3°C to -1°C and the airspeed decreasing from 196 knots to 176 knots. At 17:44, while cruising at FL200, the crew observed the activation of the icing caution light and an accompanying chime. Shortly after, the Angle of Attack (AOA) light also illuminated.
In response to the icing conditions, the crew activated the anti-icing systems and contacted Havana Control to request a descent to FL160. Due to conflicting traffic reported 30 miles ahead, the controller provided vectors, changing the aircraft's course from 295° to 330°. At 17:49, while maintaining an airspeed of 156 knots, the aircraft entered a right bank, followed by sudden oscillations between left and right banks. The aircraft then entered a 90° left bank with a steep nose-down attitude. Despite the crew's efforts to maintain control, the plane lost altitude and crashed into hilly, wooded terrain. The accident resulted in 68 fatalities.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered icing conditions during the climb, evidenced by the drop in Total Air Temperature and the activation of the ICING and AOA warning lights.
- Severe aerodynamic instability and loss of control occurred following the onset of icing and subsequent flight maneuvers.