What happened
During a nighttime approach to Arequipa-Rodríguez Ballón Airport, an aircraft encountered severe weather characterized by intense rainfall. While performing the final approach, the crew did not maintain sufficient altitude, leading the plane to collide with a hill located approximately 6.3 km from the threshold of runway 09. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 123 fatalities and no survivors recorded from the accident.
Findings
The investigation determined that the crash was a result of controlled flight into terrain. Discrepancies were noted in the pilot's final communication with Air Traffic Control, during which the pilot reported an altitude of 9,500 feet, whereas the actual altitude was only 8,644 feet. Investigators suggested that this error may have stemmed from an incorrect altimeter setting or a misreading of the instrument. Additionally, the low visibility caused by heavy rain was identified as a contributing factor to the event.