What happened
While operating a flight from Taura to Latacunga, the crew of a twin-engine aircraft was executing a climb to a requested flight level of 155. During this ascent, the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 13,400 feet before colliding with the terrain on the slope of Mount Lozan. At the time of the impact, the mountain was obscured by heavy cloud cover. The wreckage of the plane was subsequently located roughly 100 meters below the mountain's summit.
Findings
- The aircraft struck the mountainside while in the climbing phase of flight.
- Low visibility due to clouds surrounding the peak was a significant factor during the approach to the terrain.
- The accident resulted in 17 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.