What happened
During an intermediate stop on a journey from Lima to Iquitos, the aircraft was performing a descent toward runway 02 at Pucallpa-Capitán David Abensur Rengifo Airport. As the flight progressed toward its destination, the crew encountered worsening meteorological conditions characterized by significant turbulence, heavy rainfall, and cumulonimbus clouds. During the final approach phase, the aircraft became unstable and dropped below the established glide path. The plane subsequently struck a wooded, swampy area situated approximately 3.5 km before reaching the runway. The impact and a subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. The accident caused 40 fatalities, including five crew members, and left 58 injuries, with several passengers suffering serious harm.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the flight crew elected to proceed with the landing at Pucallpa despite the presence of a severe storm. The investigation highlighted that the crew did not divert to an alternative airport or select a different runway to avoid the inclement weather, even though radar had identified the storm approximately 190 miles prior to arrival. Furthermore, the aircraft was flying in an unstabilized manner, descending at a rate exceeding 1500 feet per minute, which triggered the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). A critical factor in the accident was the loss of situational awareness caused by severe hail, which obscured the cockpit windows and eliminated both horizontal and vertical visibility as the aircraft entered the core of the storm.