Incident
On a scheduled non-stop flight from Ezeiza to Córdoba, the aircraft departed Ezeiza Airport at 1500 local time with 27 passengers and 5 crew. The flight plan specified VFR conditions at a cruising altitude of 1,200 meters. At 1510, the crew requested clearance from Buenos Aires ATC to descend to 600 meters due to encountering a marked frontal belt. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a storm area featuring rain, hail, and strong electrical discharges of increasing intensity, which caused an uncontrolled loss of altitude. The aircraft continued descending until it struck the ground at approximately 1520 local time.
Injuries and Damage
The impact injured the pilot, two crew members, and four passengers. The extent of damage to the aircraft is not specified in the source.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause could not be fully ascertained. However, the aircraft, while attempting to leave the area of a violent storm at low altitude, was carried into the ground. Contributory factors identified include the pilot-in-command's persistence in attempting to climb without using full power to arrest the descent caused by meteorological conditions; the decision to enter a local storm whose violence he did not foresee and which he could have circumnavigated per company operational standards; and the lack of meteorological information regarding the weather conditions encountered.