What happened
On the morning of the incident, a four-engine aircraft departed from Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport at 07:31 local time, destined for Comodoro Rivadavia. During the cruise phase of the flight, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 4,800 meters, the crew encountered a low-pressure system characterized by intense weather and severe turbulence.
As the aircraft navigated these conditions, it became uncontrollable and entered a steep dive. The structural integrity of the plane was compromised as it partially broke apart in mid-air. The descent ended with a crash into a field situated roughly 12 km west of Pardo. There were no survivors of the accident, with a total of 67 fatalities recorded.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft suffered a structural failure when the right wing ruptured. This rupture occurred because the airframe was subjected to aerodynamic loads that exceeded its design limits during a period of extremely violent turbulence.
A significant contributing factor was the inadequate assessment of weather forecasts by both the airline dispatcher and the pilot, which led to the selection of an unsuitable cruising altitude for the prevailing atmospheric conditions.