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Aircraft Crash in Uruguay Due to Icing and Slats Extension (LV-WEG)

Nuevo Berlin, UruguayFlight

On October 10, 1997, a Douglas DC-9 (registration LV-WEG) operated by Austral Lineas Aéreas was involved in an aviation accident near Nuevo Berlin, Uruguay in flight. 74 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The immediate cause was likely the first officer, acting as pilot-in-command, extending the slats at a speed much higher than the structural design limit due to erroneous low-speed indications caused by Pitot tube blockage from icing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered LV-WEG
Aircraft registered LV-WEG. Photo: Kambui / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A scheduled flight from Posadas to Buenos Aires crashed in Uruguay after the pilot extended slats at excessive speed due to erroneous airspeed readings caused by icing, killing all 74 occupants.

Flight Details and Initial Conditions The aircraft departed Posadas-Libertador General José de San Martín Airport at 2118LT on a regular scheduled flight to Buenos Aires, carrying 69 passengers and five crew members. While cruising at 35,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated significantly, with cumulonimbus clouds reported up to 49,000 feet, stormy weather, icing conditions, and severe turbulence with winds up to 80 km/h and an outside air temperature of -59°C. The crew modified their route and entered the Montevideo Flight Information Region (FIR) without contacting Montevideo Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Probable cause

The immediate cause was likely the first officer, acting as pilot-in-command, extending the slats at a speed much higher than the structural design limit due to erroneous low-speed indications caused by Pitot tube blockage from icing. This caused an asymmetry and loss of control from which recovery was not possible.
IcingWeather

Related events

Same operator

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