Accident
On a flight from Panama City to Medellín, the crew was approaching the Abejorral NDB at 16,000 feet and received clearance to descend to flight level 120 (FL120). Shortly thereafter, while descending to 12,300 feet in poor weather, the three-engine aircraft struck the slope of Mount Páramo Frontino, approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Medellín-José María Córdova Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 132 occupants were killed. Visibility was poor due to clouds, mist, and rain at the time of the accident.
Investigation
The investigation determined that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain. The crew mistakenly initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum prescribed altitude. It was also established that the crew reported being over the Abejorral NDB when, in fact, the aircraft had not yet reached that beacon. Thunderstorm activity likely influenced some instruments, and the RNG VOR had been out of service for several months following a terrorist attack.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as stated by the official findings, was a controlled flight into terrain resulting from the crew's premature descent below the minimum prescribed altitude, with contributing factors including the crew's erroneous position reporting and potential instrument interference from thunderstorms.