What happened
While performing an approach to the Tipuani airport, the flight crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions. The aircraft was operating in a period of limited visibility caused by adverse weather patterns affecting both the Cordillera mountains and the destination area. This weather had previously resulted in delays for the flight.
During the descent phase, the aircraft descended to an insufficient altitude and collided with the northern slope of Mt Huayna, situated a short distance from the airport. The impact resulted in four fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the flight was being operated within Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). The primary factor contributing to the crash was that the aircraft was flying at an altitude that was unsafe for navigating the Huayna Pass under such environmental conditions.