What happened
A cargo operation departed from Bogotá-El Dorado Airport at 09:38 local time, bound for Tame. The aircraft was transporting 2,300 kilograms of food products along with 15 passengers and a crew of three. At 10:07 local time, the pilot communicated with air traffic control, reporting the plane's position over Guateque and providing an estimated arrival time over Yopal for 10:30.
Following this final radio contact, the aircraft continued its flight. While cruising at an altitude of 3,600 meters amidst adverse weather, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Peña de Laura. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in 18 fatalities and no survivors.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain driven by several critical failures. A primary factor was the crew's decision to proceed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite weather conditions that had fallen below minimum visibility requirements. Due to improper navigation, the crew became lost within Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), causing the aircraft to drift from its intended flight path.
Technical and operational deficiencies were also central to the crash:
- The aircraft lacked the necessary equipment for proper instrument flight operations.
- Essential navigation systems, specifically the VOR and ADF, were unserviceable at the time of departure.
- Maintenance issues were identified, including a long-term failure to correct suction levels, which may have compromised gyroscopic instrument accuracy.
- There was a significant lack of oversight from the operator regarding maintenance, dispatch, and flight operations.
Ultimately, the decision to fly in weather conditions below VFR minimums while operating with non-functional navigation equipment led to the loss of situational awareness.