Incident Overview
While approaching Joinville Airport at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew canceled their IFR flight plan and continued under VFR conditions. Minutes later, the aircraft encountered atmospheric turbulence and the crew lost control, resulting in a crash near Gavura, approximately 24 km northwest of Joinville Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation identified several factors contributing to the accident. Weather conditions were marginal with atmospheric turbulence. The captain exercised poor judgment regarding the weather conditions and demonstrated overconfidence, as he was attempting to beat his speed record on that leg. Additionally, there was a lack of administrative, technical, and operational crew surveillance by the operator. Poor crew coordination and excessive speed during descent were also noted. Furthermore, the radiosonde from the meteorology surveillance center based in Curitiba was unserviceable.
Conclusions
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be a combination of these factors. The investigation did not specify a single primary cause but listed multiple contributing elements.