What happened
On the date of the accident, a single-engine aircraft operated by the Argentinian firm Les Grands Jorates was performing a charter service from San Fernando to Trelew. The flight was carrying a total of ten people, consisting of two pilots and eight passengers. Following takeoff from San Fernando Airport, air traffic control provided the crew with successive climb instructions, increasing the altitude from 6,000 feet to 8,000 feet, and eventually to 10,000 feet.
During the ascent, the crew encountered weather conditions involving ice accumulation. In response to these conditions, the pilots requested permission to climb to 12,000 feet to avoid the icing. Although clearance was granted, the aircraft subsequently experienced a loss of control. The plane entered a steep dive and struck a field. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and 10 fatalities.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered icing conditions during the climb phase.
- The crew attempted to change altitude to mitigate the effects of the ice.
- The aircraft lost controllability during the transition to a higher altitude.