What happened
The crew was operating a flight from West Palm Beach to Albrook Air Force Base in Panama City. After an uneventful cruise phase, the pilot initiated descent from the south. Air traffic control instructed the crew to maintain a minimum safe altitude of 1,000 feet during the approach. The four-engine aircraft subsequently impacted the slope of a shrouded mountain located on Taboga Island, approximately 15 kilometers south of the airfield. The impact forces destroyed the aircraft, and all 23 occupants were killed, including one civilian.
Findings
The investigating board concluded that the pilot misidentified Otoque Island as Taboga Island while providing position reports to air traffic control. Believing he had passed Taboga and was approaching Albrook Field, the pilot descended further to regain visual contact with the terrain. In reality, his estimated position placed him over Taboga Island rather than beyond it. At the time of the accident, weather conditions on Taboga included a ceiling of approximately 750 feet above sea level, with the top 250 feet covered by clouds and visibility reduced to 1/16 mile due to light drizzle. Additionally, the pilot filed an instrument flight plan without holding a currently effective Instrument Pilot Certificate, in violation of applicable regulations.