Investigation Summary
The flight was the final segment of a route originating in Rosario, with stops in Córdoba, Mendoza, and Neuquén. During the climb to FL190, the crew encountered icing and leveled off at 17,800 feet. As ice continued to accumulate, the crew requested a descent to FL140, but the conditions worsened significantly during the transition. The JIAAC investigation found that the crew was misled by weather reports that predicted only minor icing, leaving them unprepared for the severe conditions encountered. As ice built up on the airframe, the aircraft's drag increased and its lift decreased. The crew did not advance the engines to full power to compensate for the decaying airspeed. When the aircraft eventually stalled, the crew's response was inappropriate for the situation, failing to execute a proper stall recovery. The aircraft entered a steep descent and impacted the ground approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Los Menucos.
Final Conclusions
The JIAAC final report, published in March 2015, concluded that the accident was caused by a loss of control due to an aerodynamic stall resulting from severe airframe icing. Contributing factors included inadequate airspeed management, the failure to use maximum engine power in icing conditions, and the application of incorrect stall recovery techniques. The investigation also highlighted that the meteorological information provided to the crew did not accurately reflect the severity of the icing risk in the area.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Icy Descent | Sol Líneas Aéreas Flight 5428 — A detailed look at the crash of Sol Líneas Aéreas Flight 5428, which stalled and crashed in Argentina after encountering severe icing conditions.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Crew Experience
Captain
Juan Raffo, age 45
First Officer
Adriano Bolatti, age 37
Systems & Failure Modes
Pneumatic De-icing Boots
Inflatable rubber boots on the leading edges of the wings and tail designed to crack ice buildup; these were overwhelmed by the severity of the icing.
Stall Warning System
A system designed to alert the crew of an impending aerodynamic stall; the crew failed to respond with appropriate recovery inputs when the stall occurred.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 26 years old at the time of the accident and had previously been registered as N344CA and N112PX.
- 02The crash occurred in a remote area without VHF radio coverage, necessitating the relay of the mayday call by another aircraft.
- 03The JIAAC found no evidence of technical or mechanical failure prior to the icing encounter.
- 04The weather briefing provided to the pilots predicted only minor icing, whereas they encountered severe conditions.
- 05The 22 fatalities consisted of 19 passengers (including one child), two pilots, and one flight attendant.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Upset Recovery Training
JIAAC issued recommendations for enhanced pilot training in aircraft upset recovery and incipient stall recognition.
Stall Recovery Procedures
Authorities called for improved training specifically focused on stall recovery techniques for turboprop aircraft.