What happened
During the final approach phase toward the runway 11 threshold at La Serena-La Florida Airport, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure involving the left engine. Following this loss of power, the crew was unable to maintain control of the aircraft type as it entered a left bank and lost necessary altitude. The plane impacted the ground approximately 2 km before reaching the runway threshold, resulting in a post-impact fire that completely destroyed the airframe.
There were no survivors of the accident, with a total of 46 fatalities recorded among all occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was inadequate flight planning by the pilot-in-command. Specifically, the crew failed to properly coordinate and implement necessary procedures to manage a stall condition. This situation was exacerbated by the total loss of power in the left engine while the aircraft was operating at a low altitude in its landing configuration.