What happened
On the morning of the accident, an aircraft departed from Buenos Aires at 05:15 local time, en route to Río Cuarto. Approximately two hours after takeoff, the crew communicated with the destination airport and received notification regarding unfavorable weather conditions at the arrival site.
Despite being informed that visibility and weather were below established minimums, the pilot initiated an IFR descent toward the destination. During this descent phase, the aircraft collided with a mountain slope. The impact caused the plane to disintegrate, resulting in 18 fatalities.
Findings
A primary factor in the accident was the decision to descend below the minimum altitude required for night operations without sufficient justification, particularly given that weather conditions necessitated strict adherence to IFR procedures. Additionally, investigators identified a likely communication or interpretation error between the air traffic control tower and the aircraft regarding barometric pressure settings, specifically involving the misinterpretation of QFE and QNH values.