Event Description
Shortly after liftoff, during the initial climb, the flight crew observed a loss of power on the left engine. The captain decided to abort the takeoff and land back on the runway. However, the remaining runway distance was only 950 meters. Unable to stop within that distance, the aircraft collided with arresting cables that had been installed for the Douglas A4Q Skyhawk operated by the Argentinian Navy. The impact caused severe damage to both wings, and the aircraft came to rest in flames after fuel tanks were punctured.
Evacuation and Damage
All 74 occupants on board evacuated safely. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair as a result of the fire and structural damage from the collision.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the aborted takeoff was due to an apparent loss of power. This loss of power was caused by the aircraft having touched down on the runway again after initial liftoff, while the crew was distracted by a bird of considerable size flying past the left-hand windscreen. The investigation classified this as a wrong decision on the part of the crew, as the takeoff procedure had already been completed.