Summary
On July 11, 2013, a Diamond DA-40XLS-180 aircraft, registration N293DS, operated by Aero Advantage Services Corp., crashed at 15:10 UTC near the 129 km marker of the Carretera Central highway in the Ticlio area, District of Chicla, Province of Huarochirí, Department of Lima, Peru. The flight was a private VFR operation from Lib Mandi aerodrome (SPLX) to San Ramón aerodrome (SPRM). The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. The pilot and one passenger were both killed.
Flight History
The flight plan, filed the previous day, indicated a departure time of 10:00 UTC. However, the aircraft made initial contact with Lima ATC at 14:22 UTC, reporting over Lib Mandi at 3,500 feet and requesting climb to 10,500 feet. ATC cleared the aircraft to flight level 50 (FL50), then later authorized climb to FL175 with a direct routing to San Ramón. Radar data showed the aircraft climbing northeastward, reaching FL67 near Lib Mandi, then turning north to intercept the Carretera Central highway. By 15:01:46 UTC, the last radar contact recorded the aircraft at FL147 with a speed of 93 knots. The accident occurred approximately nine minutes later.
Accident Sequence
After the last radar contact, the aircraft is estimated to have continued following the Carretera Central highway through valleys. The impact point was at coordinates 11°36'06.4"S, 076°11'54.9"W, at an elevation of 15,582 feet, about 850 meters before crossing the Ticlio summit (15,816 feet). The wreckage was concentrated in an area of approximately 100 square meters, and a post-impact fire ensued.
Aircraft and Injuries
The Diamond DA-40XLS (serial number 40.1135) was owned and operated by Aero Advantage Services Corp. and was used for private purposes. The aircraft was single-engine and single-pilot. Both occupants—the pilot-in-command and a passenger—sustained fatal injuries. No injuries to third parties or significant environmental damage were reported, though minimal contamination was noted.
Witness Account
A witness located about 900 meters from the impact point at coordinates 11°36'37"S, 076°11'53.5"W observed the aircraft. The witness reported that the aircraft approached from the direction of the Carretera Central at medium altitude, below the surrounding hilltops. It then turned left toward Laguna Ticliococha, with the engine running, and flew approximately 400 to 500 meters. After turning again toward Ticlio and advancing 200 to 300 meters, the left wing dropped and the right wing rose, after which the witness account becomes incomplete.
Previous Familiarization Flight
The pilot had conducted a familiarization flight from Lima to San Ramón and back on June 1, 2013, accompanied by a flight instructor. That flight included detailed planning, minimal payload, and use of portable oxygen during the crossing of the Andes, with a crossing altitude of 16,500 feet on the outbound leg and 18,000 feet on the return.