What happened
During a nighttime flight originating from Managua, the crew began an approach toward runway 01 at Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport. The established procedure for this arrival required a three-step descent starting from an altitude of 7,500 feet at the initial approach fix. However, the aircraft began a continuous descent much earlier than prescribed, specifically at a distance of 11 nautical miles from the destination.
As the flight progressed, the aircraft descended below the necessary glide path. At an altitude of 4,000 feet, the plane collided with the slope of Cerro de Hula, which stands at 4,800 feet. The impact occurred approximately 7.7 km before reaching runway 01. The collision caused the aircraft to break apart upon hitting the terrain. Out of all those on board, 131 fatalities and 15 survivors, including four crew members, were recorded.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the crash was the crew's failure to adhere to standard approach procedures, which led to an incorrect descent profile. Several contributing elements were noted during the inquiry:
- Inadequate experience levels among the flight crew
- Instances of crew negligence and poor coordination within the cockpit
- Failure by the crew to respond effectively to GPWS warnings
- Reduced visibility due to nighttime operations and marginal weather
- A lack of identifiable visual landmarks on the ground during the descent