What happened
During an anti-narcotics patrol flight, a four-engine aircraft crashed into the side of Mt Patascoy de Santa Lucía. The mission, which involved monitoring the southern region of Colombia and the Ecuadorian border, began at 02:30 local time from Apiay Air Force Base, situated near Villavicencio.
Approximately one hour after takeoff, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet. While operating in conditions of restricted visibility, the plane impacted the slope of the mountain, which reaches an elevation of 3,923 meters. The impact occurred roughly 35 km southeast of San Juan de Pasto. Search teams located the debris field five days after the disappearance at an altitude of 2,100 meters. The crash resulted in seven fatalities, with no survivors among the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the aircraft struck the terrain while flying in limited visibility.