On August 9, 2024, Voepass Flight 2283, an ATR 72-500, was flying from Cascavel Airport to Guarulhos International Airport with 61 people on board. The flight encountered severe icing conditions along its route. Although the aircraft was equipped for icing conditions, the situation quickly deteriorated. Initially, the aircraft was flying at 180 knots with anti-icing systems likely engaged. However, as ice accumulated on the aircraft, drag increased, and speed started to decrease. By the time the speed dropped to 170 knots, the engines were still not producing full power, as the throttles were set at mid-range. Despite multiple low-speed warnings, the crew did not significantly increase power. Ten seconds after the final low-speed warning, the autopilot disengaged. The aircraft began to roll steeply to the right, and the descent rate increased dramatically. The airspeed indicator failed due to icing, leaving the crew without reliable speed data. The aircraft then entered a flat spin, rotating several times before crashing. Throughout the situation, the propellers were spinning at full RPM, but the engines were not delivering maximum torque. The throttle levers remained in the mid-range, and the crew failed to advance them to maximum power. This insufficient power output, combined with severe icing, led to the rapid loss of control. The aircraft’s final moments involved a rapid, uncontrolled descent and multiple rotations in a flat spin. All 61 people on board were killed when the aircraft crashed near Vinhedo, São Paulo. The failure to increase power, loss of airspeed data, severe icing, and possible issues with the de-icing system were all major contributing factors to the crash. The investigation continues to examine these factors to understand the precise cause.
