Accident Overview
A four-engine cargo airplane, operating a flight from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Arica, Chile, crashed into the slope of Mount Nevados de Putre, located approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Putre, Chile. The accident occurred while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet under visual flight rules (VFR). The crew encountered poor weather conditions prior to the impact. The wreckage was discovered a few hours after the accident.
Occupants and Fatalities
The aircraft was carrying six occupants, all of whom were killed in the crash. No other injuries or fatalities were reported.
Investigation and Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was that the crew was flying under VFR mode in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), leading to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). The report specifically stated that the crew's decision to continue VFR flight into adverse weather conditions resulted in the aircraft striking the mountainous terrain.