Fatal Charter Flight Crash at Pias Airport (OB-1992-P)

Incident Overview and Flight Details A twin-engine aircraft departed Lima-Jorge Chávez Airport at 0625 local time on a charter flight to Pias. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and seven employees of the Peruvian company MARSA (Minera Aurífera Retamas), who were traveling to the Pias gold mine. The flight was operating under charter conditions, and the aircraft was not identified by registration or specific type in the source material. ## Approach and Collision During the approach to Pias Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to foggy conditions. While on a heading of 320° for the approach, the aircraft descended too low and collided with power cables. The impact caused the aircraft to stall, and it subsequently crashed on the slope of a mountain located 4.5 km from the airport. The aircraft burst into flames upon impact. ## Outcome and Investigation Findings The aircraft was destroyed by the impact forces and a post-crash fire, resulting in the deaths of all nine occupants. The official investigation determined that the probable cause was loss of control following the collision with high power cables after the crew lost visual references during an approach completed in poor weather conditions. Contributing factors included inadequate meteorological information provided by the Pias Airport flight coordinator, which did not reflect actual weather conditions in the area. Additionally, the lack of a procedure card for descent, approach, landing, and takeoff at Pias Airport, considering the visual and operational meteorological limitations, was identified as a contributing factor. The copilot's limited training, which did not allow the crew to develop skills for effective crew resource management in normal and emergency procedures, was also cited as a contributing factor.