What happened
On a scheduled cargo mission traveling from Santa Ana del Yacuma toward La Paz, an aircraft carrying a cargo of meat and several people struck a mountain. The flight was occupied by three crew members and seven passengers at the time of the accident.
As the flight was performing its descent into La Paz-El Alto Airport, the aircraft encountered difficult weather conditions characterized by low visibility. During this phase of flight, the plane collided with the slope of Mt Chacaltaya, which has an elevation of 5,421 metres. The impact occurred approximately 19 km north of the destination airport. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused 10 fatalities.
Findings
- The crew was operating in poor weather and limited visibility during the approach to the airport.
- The aircraft struck high-altitude terrain while descending toward La Paz-El Alto Airport.