Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 322
| Company type | Passenger flight |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 23 November 1961 (date of crash) |
| Fate | Crashed |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
| Products | Passenger air transport |
Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 322 was an international passenger flight scheduled to operate from Buenos Aires to New York City, with intermediate stops in São Paulo and Port of Spain. The aircraft, a Comet 4 bearing registration LV-AHR, crashed shortly after departing from Viracopos-Campinas International Airport on 23 November 1961 during its initial climb. Approximately 2 km from the airport, the plane struck treetops. Tragically, all 52 individuals aboard—comprising 40 passengers and 12 crew members—lost their lives.
Flight history
The jet had arrived from Buenos Aires, Argentina, landing at Viracopos-Campinas International Airport, located north of São Paulo, as a scheduled stopover. Departure occurred at 05:38, en route to Piarco International Airport, Trinidad, with New York City as the ultimate destination. After ascending to roughly , the aircraft descended unexpectedly, collided with eucalyptus trees, and crashed; the impact caused the fuel tanks to ignite. There were no survivors among the 52 occupants.
Investigation
The inquiry was primarily conducted by Brazilian authorities, with support from Argentina.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included a "dark night" with broken stratocumulus clouds covering seven-eighths of the sky at , and an overcast layer of altostratus at . The Brazilian Air Ministry determined that meteorological factors did not play a role in the crash.
Examination of cockpit arrangements revealed that the first officer occupied the left seat, indicating he was likely undergoing training by the captain during this flight. Notably, the first officer had no recorded pilot-in-command experience on this aircraft model.
The Brazilian Air Ministry’s official probable cause stated:
It is assumed that the co-pilot was receiving flight instruction. If so, the instructor (pilot-in-command) may have inadequately briefed or supervised him.
Meanwhile, Argentina’s findings concluded:
The accident stemmed from failure to operate under IFR during a nighttime takeoff in conditions necessitating IFR compliance, as well as non-adherence to prescribed climb procedures for this type of aircraft; insufficient vigilance by the pilot-in-command was also a contributing factor.
See also
- Aerolíneas Argentinas accidents and incidents
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
Notes
External links
- Brazilian Air Ministry accident report on prevac.com.ar (Argentinian aviation safety website, in Spanish) (Archive)