Brazil’s Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa) released a preliminary report on Friday concerning the tragic crash of a Voepass ATR-72 aircraft in August, which claimed the lives of all 62 people on board. The report highlights that the aircraft’s icing detectors were activated at least three times during the flight, suggesting that ice build-up may have played a significant role in the crash.
The turboprop, operated by local carrier Voepass, was en route from Cascavel in Parana state to Sao Paulo’s international airport when it lost control and plummeted to the ground near the town of Vinhedo, approximately 80 km northwest of Sao Paulo, on August 9.
According to Cenipa, cockpit recordings revealed that the copilot expressed concerns about “a lot of icing,” implying that the aircraft’s de-icing system may have malfunctioned. However, this has yet to be confirmed through further investigation. The preliminary report details the timeline of the flight but stops short of identifying a definitive cause.
“The pilots’ repeated activation of the airframe de-icing system aligns with their awareness of the icing issue and their attempts to mitigate it using onboard systems,” explained Anthony Brickhouse, a U.S. aviation safety expert.
The crash, which became 2024’s deadliest commercial airliner disaster, has sparked significant concern within the aviation community. Numerous videos posted on social media depict the aircraft in a flat spin, spiraling towards the ground with no forward movement, a phenomenon consistent with severe in-flight icing.
Experts have pointed out that ice accumulation on aircraft wings can severely disrupt airflow, leading to loss of control. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), such conditions can cause an aircraft to roll or pitch uncontrollably, making recovery impossible.
As Cenipa continues its investigation, which could take over a year to complete, the initial findings underscore the critical importance of effective de-icing systems on aircraft, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
