Investigation Summary
The flight originated in Buenos Aires and made a scheduled stop in Resistencia before continuing to Posadas. During the final leg, the crew encountered a severe weather front that reduced visibility at Posadas to just 100 meters, well below the legal minimums for the approach. Despite these conditions, the crew proceeded with the instrument approach to Runway 01. Recovered Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data, though heavily damaged by post-crash fire, indicated that the first officer expressed hesitation about the landing and dismay upon realizing the aircraft had descended below the lowest safe altitude. The aircraft eventually clipped trees in a wooded area, leading to a total loss of control and impact. The investigation highlighted a breakdown in crew coordination and a failure to adhere to established safety altitudes during the approach phase.
Final Conclusions
The Junta de Investigación de Accidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC) concluded the primary cause was the crew's decision to continue the approach below weather minimums and descend past the decision height without visual reference to the runway. Contributing factors included poor approach planning, a lack of crew coordination, and the prevailing dense fog. The investigation also noted that the severity of the recorder damage was exacerbated by inadequate insulation and wiring protection.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
The device recorded crew communications; investigators recommended strengthening its wiring and insulation after fire damage rendered parts of the tape unusable.
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
The crew was utilizing instrument approach procedures for Runway 01, but failed to observe the decision height (DH) limits mandated by the system.
Interesting Facts
- 01Visibility at the time of the accident was reported as 100 meters due to dense fog.
- 02The aircraft struck the top of a eucalyptus tree before flipping on its side and crashing.
- 03The crash site was located exactly 3,022 meters (1.63 NM) short of the runway 01 threshold.
- 04Post-crash fire destroyed large portions of the CVR and FDR recordings.
- 05The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-81 manufactured in 1981 (MSN 48050).
- 06The 22 fatalities consisted of 15 passengers and 7 crew members, according to airline statements and UPI.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Flight Recorder Insulation Improvements
The JIAAC recommended that the NTSB and McDonnell Douglas improve the thermal insulation of flight recorders to prevent data loss in post-crash fires.
CVR Wiring Reinforcement
Investigators recommended strengthening the wiring connecting the cockpit area microphone to the recorder unit located in the empennage.