Varig Boeing 707-441 Crash into La Cruz Peak (PP-VJB)

Incident Overview and Casualties A Boeing 707-441 passenger jet operated by Varig was destroyed when it struck the side of La Cruz Peak near Lima, Peru. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 80 passengers and 17 crew members on board. ## Flight Details and Approach Flight RG810 departed Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport at 03:53 UTC on a scheduled flight to Los Angeles, with en route stops at Lima, Bogotá, Panama City, and Mexico City. At 08:09, the flight reported to Lima Air Traffic Control at 36,000 feet, estimating Pisco at 08:13 and Lima-Callao Airport at 08:36, and requested permission to descend. Lima ATC advised the crew of a DC-6 that had departed Lima at 07:35 and was also estimating Pisco at 08:13 while cruising at 13,500 feet. After passing Pisco at 08:13, the crew began their descent. At 08:19, Flight RG-810 reached 26,000 feet, and authorization was granted to continue descending for a straight-in approach to runway 33. At 08:24, the flight reported to Approach Control ten minutes from the station at 15,000 feet, still in descent. By 08:30, it had reached 12,000 feet over Las Palmas. ## Deviation and Impact Because the aircraft was too high for a straight-in approach to runway 33, Approach Control suggested a 360-degree turn over Las Palmas and a report overhead Las Palmas. The aircraft continued descending, turning slightly right of its 330-degree heading and passing east of Lima Airport before making a left turn over Lima-Callao Airport. It continued turning until headed south, passing west of Las Palmas to initiate the outbound procedure from the ILS back course, then made a 180-degree turn to intercept the ILS back course (327 degrees). However, it maintained the normal intercept course for almost three minutes before starting its turn to the north. The aircraft's heading was 333 degrees when it struck La Cruz Peak, approximately 8 miles east of the approach track of the Morro Solar ILS back course.