What happened
During a flight from Machala to Guayaquil, an aircraft was cruising at 6,000 feet through rain showers when the left engine experienced a loss of power. In response to the failure, the crew performed procedures to shut down the engine and feather the propeller. Following this, the flight continued at a reduced altitude of 600 feet and a speed of 80 knots.
While the crew attempted to restart the left engine multiple times, the efforts were unsuccessful. During this period, the right engine also suffered a loss of power. Lacking the necessary altitude to maintain controlled flight, the crew initiated an emergency landing procedure. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a river located approximately 23 km south of Guayaquil.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage that was considered beyond repair.
- All 14 occupants of the aircraft survived the impact, sustaining only minor injuries.