What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a mail delivery route from San Salvador-Comalapa to La Aurora Airport in Guatemala City. During the final approach and descent phase, the flight path brought the airplane into proximity with terrain located approximately 13 kilometers southeast of the destination airport.
Specifically, the aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain near San José Pinula. The collision occurred because the crew did not recognize that their altitude was insufficient for safe passage over the rising terrain. The impact resulted in the immediate loss of the aircraft and the lives of everyone on board.
Findings
The primary factor identified in the sequence of events was a failure in situational awareness regarding vertical position. The flight deck team did not realize that their altitude was inadequate for the specific geographical features they were approaching. This lack of recognition led directly to the controlled flight into terrain, as the aircraft struck the mountainside before reaching a safe glide path or landing configuration.
The accident resulted in three fatalities, comprising the entire crew complement. The individuals on board consisted of the pilot, the copilot, and the radio navigator. No passengers were reported on this specific mail operation.