Brazil probe finds severe icing caused 2024 Voepass crash that killed 62
7 reported
Brazilian air force investigators published their findings on Thursday about the 2024 Voepass airplane accident that killed 62 people. The probe confirmed that severe icing conditions, mechanical system failures, and pilot distractions contributed to the crash. The Voepass ATR 72-500 twin-turboprop crashed into a residential neighborhood in Vinhedo on Aug. 9, 2024, killing all aboard. The flight from Cascavel to Sao Paulo’s international airport encountered severe atmospheric icing at 17,000 feet, causing the aircraft to lose lift and enter an unrecoverable “flat spin.” Flight recorders showed the crew recognized heavy ice accumulation, but the de-icing system had recurring technical faults and was switched back and forth during critical phases. Investigators noted a systemic “culture of normalizing deviations” within Voepass, with preexisting mechanical issues tolerated before takeoff. The crew was also distracted by routine radio communications and administrative tasks during severe icing warnings and did not make correction maneuvers in time.
What’s reported
The crash occurred on Aug. 9, 2024, in Vinhedo, outside Sao Paulo.
62 people were killed, all aboard the Voepass ATR 72-500.
The probe confirmed severe icing, mechanical failures, and pilot distractions as contributing factors.
The aircraft encountered severe atmospheric icing at 17,000 feet, leading to a “flat spin.”
The de-icing system had recurring technical faults and was switched back and forth during critical phases.
Investigators cited a “culture of normalizing deviations” within Voepass, with preexisting mechanical issues tolerated before takeoff.
The crew was distracted by routine radio communications and administrative tasks during icing warnings.
Key figures
Brazilian air force investigators (no specific names provided)
Voepass (airline)
Sources: abcnews.com
