What happened
On a scheduled flight from Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport to Cali, with a planned stop in Tulcán, an aircraft carrying 87 passengers and 7 crew members was traveling at 18,000 feet along airway G-675. While en route toward Ipiales, Colombia, the flight crew received clearance to descend to 14,000 feet and received updated weather information for their destination.
During the descent, the crew deviated from established company standard operating procedures. Instead of maintaining the required approach speed of 180 knots, the aircraft descended at a speed of 230 knots. Additionally, the flight path deviated from the prescribed approach track for Tulcán-Teniente Coronel Luis A. Mantilla Airport. While operating in low visibility caused by cloud cover, the aircraft collided with the slope of Mt El Cumbal, situated approximately 30 km northwest of Ipiales, at an altitude of 14,700 feet. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 94 fatalities and no survivors. The debris field was located 1,400 feet below the mountain summit.
Findings
Investigation into the crash identified that the crew failed to adhere to standard operating procedures regarding speed management and navigation. Specifically, the excessive descent speed and failure to follow the correct approach track contributed to the collision with terrain in poor visibility.