What happened
A cargo flight traveling from Rio Grande to Ezeiza via Rio Gallegos experienced a series of mechanical failures during its transit. While flying over the region near Comodoro Rivadavia, the pilot noticed that the oil level in the number one engine was dropping rapidly, at a rate of approximately one gallon every 15 minutes. Although the crew initially attempted to verify the reading visually, flames were observed emanating from the engine, confirming an active leak.
The situation escalated when the number two engine also experienced critical issues, including rising temperatures and fluctuating oil pressure, forcing the pilot to shut down and feather the second engine as well. Attempting to reach Trelew, the pilot descended to cool the remaining operational engine. To manage the aircraft's weight during the emergency, approximately 1,200 kg of cargo was jettisoned.
As night fell, the pilot decided to attempt a ditching along the coastline. During the impact with the water, the aircraft struck rocks, causing extensive damage to the airframe and powerplants. While the occupants survived the initial impact, the crew and passengers faced extreme difficulty reaching the shore due to inadequate life-saving equipment. Tragically, one engineer was swept away by currents and went missing, and another crew member disappeared while attempting to swim to safety. The aircraft sustained approximately 90% damage.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was the decision to continue the flight with both engines impaired until a night ditching became unavoidable, rather than performing an emergency landing during daylight hours. Additional contributing factors included the unauthorized transport of passengers on a cargo-only flight and the presence of an unlicensed individual acting as a mechanic on board.