Investigation Summary
The flight from Tucuman was uneventful until the arrival in Buenos Aires. At 10:35, the tower cleared the flight to descend to 750 metres toward the San Fernando VOR for a direct approach to runway 13. By 10:40, the crew reported over the OP VOR and received landing clearance. However, weather conditions deteriorated rapidly; at 10:42, the crew reported the runway in sight but then lost visual contact due to heavy rain and a significant wind shift. The wind, which had been 6 knots at 060 degrees, shifted to 12 knots at 030 degrees and eventually 360 degrees at 10 knots. This shift necessitated a change in landing direction from runway 13 to runway 31. The crew executed a go-around and were directed to hold over the Quilmes (ILM) NDB at 900 metres. Observing cumulonimbus clouds in that area, the crew requested a different holding pattern over the river at 600 metres (2,000ft). At 10:52, while turning back toward the airport for a second approach—this time to runway 31—the aircraft entered the core of a massive storm cell. Radar and radio contact were lost shortly thereafter. Search teams located the wreckage in the river several hours later, but only 55 to 65 percent of the airframe was ever recovered. Despite a 42-day search operation, both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) remained missing.
Final Conclusions
The Junta de Investigaciones de Accidentes de Aviación Civil (JIAAC) concluded that the probable cause was the loss of control of the aircraft and subsequent impact with the water. This was attributed to an error of appreciation by the pilot when evaluating the meteorological conditions while crossing through the zone of influence of a cumulonimbus of extremely violent activity.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Weather Radar
The crew used onboard or ground-based information to identify cumulonimbus clouds, but underestimated the severity of the cell they eventually entered.
Flight Recorders (CVR/FDR)
The absence of these devices prevented investigators from knowing the specific control inputs or cockpit conversations during the loss of control.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a BAC One-Eleven with 21,729 flight hours.
- 02All 31 people on board (26 passengers and 5 crew) perished.
- 03The flight recorders (CVR and FDR) were never recovered despite a 42-day search.
- 04Only 55-65% of the aircraft wreckage was successfully salvaged from the river.
- 05The storm involved cumulonimbus clouds with extremely violent activity.