What happened
During a flight originating from Quibdó and destined for Medellín, the crew was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) when they encountered weather characterized by intermittent rain and mist. While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft type struck the slope of Mt El Plateado. This impact occurred in the northeast region of the Chocó Province, approximately 66 km northeast of Quibdó.
The force of the collision resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were no survivors among the 23 fatalities recorded on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident highlighted several critical factors regarding the flight's execution. The crew chose to proceed with the flight under VFR despite the presence of adverse weather conditions. Furthermore, the aircraft departed from the designated airway outlined in the air route manual and operated at a flight level that was lower than what is required for instrument flight conditions.
A significant contributing factor was identified as inadequate oversight by both the operator and operational personnel, specifically regarding the allowance of crew deviations from established routes within the Colombian Air Routes Manual.