What happened
Following departure from runway 17 at São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew received instructions to climb to 5,500 feet while maintaining a heading of 270. During this ascent, the aircraft encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by strong winds, atmospheric turbulence, and heavy cloud cover. At an altitude of approximately 5,300 feet, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude, dropping to 4,700 feet for a period of 17 seconds.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The flight ended when the plane struck four residential structures in the Vila Anhanguera district, situated roughly 5.5 km southwest of the airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of both the aircraft and the four houses. On the ground, the accident caused seven fatalities and left six people injured, one of whom sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical contributing factors related to crew performance and operational oversight. The pilots were experiencing significant fatigue, having been on duty for over 15 hours without sufficient rest at Congonhas Airport. This exhaustion, combined with a lack of recent instrument flight training for the captain, impaired the crew's decision-making capabilities.
During the climb, rapid fluctuations in the aircraft's speed, altitude, and attitude created a high-stress environment. The pilot flying reportedly experienced difficulty trusting the instruments, believing the artificial horizons were malfunctioning. This distrust, exacerbated by the pressure of managing passengers who were distressed and eager to reach Maringá, led to inadequate manual corrections that worsened the flight's instability. Furthermore, the operator failed to ensure the crew received adequate rest periods, and the pilots' assessment of the unfavorable weather conditions was insufficient.