What happened
The flight departed from Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport at 19:50 local time, following a 35-minute delay caused by adverse weather conditions at the destination. After a routine flight, the pilot received clearance to land on runway 12 at Mar del Plata-Brigadier General Bartolomé de la Colina Airport. As the aircraft passed over the runway threshold at an altitude of 85 meters, it overshot the landing area.
In response to the situation, the captain initiated a go-around procedure. During this maneuver, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, leading to a stall. The plane subsequently crashed into the ocean roughly 1.2 km from the coast. The accident resulted in 52 fatalities and one serious injury.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was the pilot's failure to follow established instrument flight procedures during the missed approach, instead attempting to maintain visual contact during nighttime operations in poor weather. Several contributing factors were identified:
- The pilot lacked familiarity with the specific airport for this type of operation, leading to a miscalculation during the instrument approach.
- The crew's decision-making and skill were compromised by a state of temporary confusion during the critical phase of flight.
- Operational difficulties were exacerbated by an out-of-service radio beacon and poor visibility due to weather.
- There were issues regarding the unsatisfactory dispatching of the aircraft by the operator.