Event Details
A flight operating as Flight 915 departed Arica at approximately 1327 hours Bolivian time, bound for Cochabamba. The flight was planned as an eight-hour Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operation with a cruising altitude of 17,000 feet. Eight minutes after takeoff, the crew contacted ATC at Cochabamba to report departure time, passenger count, aircraft weight, and fuel load.
Flight Information
Between 1347 and 1348, the air traffic controller at La Paz informed Flight 915 about Panagra flights 701 and 393, which were flying at 22,000 and 21,000 feet respectively and were estimating Charaña at 1355 and Arica at 1351. Flight 915 acknowledged this message. At approximately 1400 hours and several times thereafter, La Paz ATC attempted to contact the flight with updated positions of the two Panagra aircraft in the Arica zone, but received no reply.
Accident Sequence
Investigation determined that the aircraft struck Chachacomani Peak (latitude 17°49'00'', longitude 69°50'00''W) in Peruvian territory near the Chilean border at an altitude of 14,250 feet. The impact occurred sometime between 1351 and 1355 hours.
Wreckage and Rescue
The wreckage was spotted by a reconnaissance aircraft crew a few hours later. First responders reached the site subsequently and confirmed that all 39 occupants had been killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation stated: "A flight under visual flight rules was attempted below the minimum altitude indicated in the flight plan in weather conditions that were marginal for this type of operation and were associated with the severe turbulence which usually exists in that region (western area)."