Incident Overview
A four-engine aircraft departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport at 0731 local time, bound for Comodoro Rivadavia. While cruising at an altitude of 4,800 meters, the crew encountered poor weather conditions, including a low-pressure area and severe turbulence. The aircraft lost control, entered a dive, and partially disintegrated before crashing in a field located 12 km west of Pardo. All 67 occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Official investigation determined that the aircraft disintegrated in flight due to rupture of the right wing. This occurred after the wing was subjected to loads exceeding its design limits in a zone of extremely violent turbulence. A contributing factor was identified as insufficient evaluation of the weather forecast by both the aircraft captain and the airline dispatcher, which resulted in the selection of an inappropriate flight altitude for the conditions encountered.
Sequence of Events
The flight proceeded normally until reaching cruising altitude. The weather deterioration was rapid, with severe turbulence and a low-pressure area reported in the vicinity. The crew's attempt to maintain control failed, and the aircraft entered an uncontrolled dive. Structural failure followed, with the right wing separating from the airframe. The wreckage was dispersed over a wide area, consistent with an in-flight breakup. The main crash site was located 12 kilometers west of Pardo, where the remaining fuselage impacted the ground.