Date & Time:
May 8, 2005 at 1926 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
Operator:
Borealis Taxi Aéreo
Registration:
LV-LXO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan – Córdoba
MSN:
31-7552076
YOM:
1975
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
2
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
4
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total hours on type:
240
Copilot / Total hours on type:
24
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a charter flight from San Juan to Córdoba with seven passengers and two pilots on board. On approach to Córdoba-Ambrosio Taravella Airport by night, the crew encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. The aircraft descended below the glide and collided with the inner marker antenna located about 700 metres short of runway 18 and crashed. Both pilots and four passengers were killed while three other passengers were seriously injured. Among those killed were the Argentinian racer Nicolas Vuyovich and Gustavo Ramonda, Director of the Toyota Corolla Racing Team who just won a race at the San Juan's autodrome.
Probable cause:
During a night approach in IMC conditions, the aircraft collided with the antenna of the inner marker after the crew descended below the MDA and deviated from the approach pattern. The following contributing factors were identified:
- The adverse weather conditions probably produced an optical illusion among the crew,
- The crew had only little training in instrument flights,
- Wrong altimeter setting,
- Absence of crew resources management,
- Poor crew coordination.
- The adverse weather conditions probably produced an optical illusion among the crew,
- The crew had only little training in instrument flights,
- Wrong altimeter setting,
- Absence of crew resources management,
- Poor crew coordination.
Final Report:
LV-LXO.pdf205.62 KB
