What happened
On the morning of March 28, 1997, a Beech E-90, registration N90DA, was operating an international air taxi service from Cuzco, Peru. The flight departed at approximately 0700 eastern standard time. During the approach to Huaypetue Airport in Choque, Peru, the aircraft failed to reach the runway surface, instead touching down on the ground before the threshold.
At the time of the incident, weather conditions were within visual meteorological limits, and the flight was operating under visual flight rules. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe. Despite the force of the landing, the pilot and the six passengers on board escaped the accident without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations conducted by civil aviation authorities determined that the primary factor in the accident was that the pilot misjudged the distance to the runway during the final approach. A subsequent inspection of the aircraft following the event revealed no indications of mechanical malfunction or system failure prior to the touchdown.