What happened
On December 23, 2001, a Cessna 337D, registration N24EG, operated by Aero Urbe, was conducting a repositioning flight from Pucallpa to Piura. The aircraft was occupied by two pilots and one mechanic.
Following its departure from Pucallpa at 15:24, the aircraft successfully reported its position to Tarapoto at 16:47 and Moyobamba at 17:16. At 18:47, the crew contacted Piura, stating they were joining the 115 radial of the Piura VOR at 95 nautical miles from the station, maintaining an altitude of 8,000 feet (FL080). The crew provided an estimated time of arrival in Piura of 19:20. No further communications were received after this transmission.
The investigation
The Search and Rescue (SAR) system declared the aircraft in an alert phase at 21:24 on the day of the disappearance. On December 26, search teams located the wreckage on the summit of Cerro Bravo in the Cajamarca province. The investigation established that the aircraft suffered total destruction upon impact.
Findings
- The accident resulted in two fatalities among the crew and one injury (minor/slight).
- The primary cause of the accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).