What happened
On the final leg of a journey originating in Santa Fe, an aircraft departed Rosario at 09:01, bound for Buenos Aires. While the flight plan specified an altitude of 1200 m, the crew was forced to increase their altitude to 1800 m and eventually 2400 m due to encountering turbulence. At 09:43, the pilot notified air traffic control of a localized fire within the cabin and declared an intention to perform an emergency landing at Zárate.
The descent toward Zárate was interrupted when the aircraft attempted to reach a field located approximately 9 km from the intended airport. During this maneuver, the plane made contact with the ground via its undercarriage, engine, and left wing, causing the airframe to break apart. Although a fire ignited upon impact, it did not consume the entire wreckage. The accident resulted in 30 fatalities and one serious injury among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the aircraft struck the ground during an attempt at a precautionary landing for reasons that remained undetermined. Evidence indicated that smoke or fumes were present inside the cabin. Furthermore, it was discovered that the No.2 engine had been shut down and its propeller was windmilling because of an oil leak.