What happened
During an approach to Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport, an unidentified aircraft collided with the side of Mt Machu Sayari. The impact occurred at an elevation of 4,350 meters, a few kilometers from the city of Cochabamba. At the time of the accident, the flight was in its descent phase, navigating through challenging weather characterized by low clouds and restricted visibility.
Following the collision, search efforts located the wreckage several days after the event. The accident resulted in four fatalities, with all members of the crew lost in the crash.
Findings
Investigation into the accident suggests that the primary factor was that the crew initiated their descent before reaching the required altitude. This premature descent led the plane to fly below the established minimum descent altitude, ultimately resulting in the collision with the terrain.