Aviation Accident Involving Charter Flight CP-2339 (CP-2933)

Flight Details and Accident Overview The aircraft, identified in the source as CP-2339, was operating a charter flight from Santa Cruz-Viru Viru to Medellín-José María Córdova (Rionegro) Airport. The flight was carrying members of the Chapecoense Real soccer team from Brazil, who were traveling to Medellín to play against Atletico Nacional in a Copa Sudamericana match. ## Accident Circumstances The descent to Medellín began at night under good weather conditions. During the descent, the aircraft encountered an electrical problem. At 2156 local time, while descending to flight level 155, the four-engine aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded area on the slope of a mountain in the Cerro Gordo, near the city of La Ceja, approximately 17 km south of runway 01 threshold. ## Casualties and Immediate Aftermath The aircraft was completely destroyed upon impact, but no fire occurred. Six occupants—two crew members and four passengers—were injured and evacuated, while 71 other occupants were killed. ## Investigation and Regulatory Action Initial investigations indicated that the crew encountered electrical problems and that the aircraft may have suffered fuel exhaustion. The investigation board was working to determine the exact circumstances, including the behavior and flight supervision of the flight crew and operator, as well as issues related to instruments, fuel gauges, flight preparation, operations, permission, and ground assistance. On December 2, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bolivia revoked the Air Operator Certificate of LAMIA with immediate effect, and all flights were suspended. ## Probable Cause The official findings determined that the accident was the consequence of inappropriate planning and execution of the flight. Specifically, the amount of fuel required to fly from the destination airport to an alternate airport was not considered, nor were the amounts of reserve fuel, contingency fuel, or minimum landing fuel, all of which are required by aeronautical regulations for the type of international flight being performed. Contributing factors included loss of situational awareness, premature configuration of the aircraft for landing, latent deficiencies, lack of operational supervision and control by part of the operator, and organizational and operational deviations by the operator, including non-compliance with standard procedures.