Voepass crash investigation cites de‑icing failure and safety culture flaws
On 9 August 2024 an ATR‑72 operated by Voepass crashed shortly after take‑off from Cascavel, killing 62 people, including four crew members, while en route to Guarulhos. The aircraft, registration PS‑VPB, encountered severe icing that disabled its airframe‑de‑icing system, leading to a loss of speed and an aerodynamic stall.
Brazil's aviation safety agency Cenipa concluded that the accident resulted from a chain of 19 contributing factors. Pilots repeatedly ignored system alerts and did not log the icing problems in the flight‑deck record. Maintenance records showed recurring deficiencies, with defective components swapped between aircraft and inadequate inspections. “Três equipes diferentes realizando a normalização de desvio… demonstra uma cultura organizacional,” said Lt‑Colonel Paulo Mendes Fróes. The agency also highlighted systemic lapses in oversight by the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac).
Cenipa’s final report recommends stricter enforcement of de‑icing procedures, mandatory reporting of system failures, and enhanced supervision of airline maintenance practices to prevent similar tragedies.