What happened
During cruise at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the flight crew communicated with air traffic control to confirm that they had just overflown Mt Laguna. Following this report, the pilot initiated a descent. As the aircraft lowered its altitude to approximately 6,120 feet, it collided with the eastern slope of Mt Cuyapaipe.
The impact forces and subsequent post-crash fire destroyed the airframe. The wreckage was located 75 feet below the mountain's summit. All 12 occupants perished in the accident.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the collision resulted from a navigational error. Specifically, the pilot miscalculated the aircraft's position relative to Laguna Mountain. This misjudgment led to the flight being conducted at an altitude insufficient to clear the terrain obstructions.