What happened
On a flight traveling from Medellín toward Quibdó, the crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions characterized by heavy cloud cover and restricted visibility. While the aircraft was maintaining an altitude of 12,500 feet, it collided with the side of Mt San Nicolas, which reaches an elevation of 3,800 meters, situated to the southwest of Betania.
The wreckage of the accident was not located until January 25, four days after the initial event. The impact resulted in 39 fatalities, leaving no survivors among the passengers and crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the crash suggest that the primary factor was a loss of situational awareness by the pilot during the cruise phase. While operating within poor weather, the crew became disoriented and failed to maintain the intended flight path, leading to the collision with the terrain.