Incident Details
The single-engine airplane, operating a local sightseeing flight, took off from Nazca-María Reiche Neuman Airport with a total of seven people on board: five passengers and two crew members. During the rotation phase, mechanical failures became apparent through unusual noises and a progressive power loss from the engine. The crew pressed on with the takeoff but could not reach the required speed and altitude for a normal climb. The pilot radioed that he was returning to the airport, but shortly thereafter, the aircraft suffered a loss of aerodynamic lift and struck the ground violently.
Injuries and Damage
The impact inflicted multiple serious injuries on the occupants and sparked a fire that engulfed a large portion of the aircraft. All seven individuals on board died.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause: a progressive loss of engine power due to a malfunction of the combustion system beginning at takeoff. This failure critically degraded the aircraft's performance, making it unable to maintain sufficient speed and altitude to return to the airport, leading to a sudden loss of lift and a collision with terrain.