Incident Overview
A flight from Buenos Aires concluded with a wing strike during the descent phase at Concordia-Comodoro Pierrestegui Airport. The approach was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in good weather conditions. The pilot-in-command did not recognize that the aircraft's altitude was insufficient, leading to the left wing contacting a tree located 4 km from the threshold of runway 21.
Sequence of Events
Following an uneventful flight from Buenos Aires, the crew began the descent to the airport. The approach was executed under VFR mode with good weather. As the aircraft neared the airport, the left wing struck a tree 4 km short of runway 21. The impact caused the aircraft to stall. It then struck the ground, resulting in the loss of the undercarriage. The aircraft slid for several dozen meters before coming to rest.
Occupants and Injuries
The aircraft carried 60 occupants. Following the accident, all 60 were evacuated from the aircraft. Among the occupants, 10 sustained injuries.
Official Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the probable cause was the crew descending below the minimum descent altitude (MDA), which led to the aircraft striking obstacles. The weather conditions were good and the approach was conducted under VFR mode.