What happened
While performing a flight for the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) from Macas to Taisha, an aircraft struck the side of Mt Paso Macuna. The incident occurred approximately 34 km west of the destination. During the transit, the crew encountered conditions characterized by low visibility and adverse weather.
The impact took place on a slope of the mountain, which has an elevation of 1,500 meters. Search efforts located the wreckage roughly 35 meters below the summit of the peak. The accident resulted in 22 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the accident was controlled flight into terrain.