Summary
On a flight from Quibdó to Medellín, the crew was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) when they encountered marginal weather conditions including mist and intermittent rain. At an altitude of 11,500 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt El Plateado, located in the northeast part of the Chocó Province approximately 66 km northeast of Quibdó. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces, and all 23 occupants were killed.
Investigation
Investigators from the Colombian aviation authority examined the circumstances of the accident. The flight was being conducted under VFR mode, and the crew faced deteriorating weather along the route. The aircraft deviated from the designated airway specified in the air route manual and maintained a flight level below that established for instrument flight conditions. The investigation also found that supervision by the operation personnel and the operator was poor, as crews were allowed to deviate from flight routes clearly established in the Colombian Air Routes Manual.
Findings
The probable cause of the accident was determined by the investigation and includes the following findings:
- The crew continued the flight under VFR mode in adverse weather conditions.
- The crew deviated from the airway specified in the air route manual and maintained a flight level below that established for instrument flight conditions.
- Poor supervision on the part of the operation personnel and the operator, by allowing crews to deviate from flight routes within the airways clearly established in the Colombian Air Routes Manual.
These findings highlight the circumstances that led to the collision with terrain. No contributing factors beyond those explicitly stated have been identified.