Accident Overview
An aircraft experienced a left engine failure while on final approach to La Serena-La Florida Airport. The crew subsequently lost control of the airplane. The aircraft banked to the left, lost height, and impacted the ground 2 kilometers short of the threshold of runway 11. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 46 occupants on board were killed.
Sequence of Events
The flight was in the landing configuration during final approach when the left engine ceased to function. The pilots attempted to manage the situation but were unable to maintain control. The resulting loss of control led to a left bank and descent, culminating in a crash short of the runway. The post-crash fire consumed the aircraft.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be: Inadequate flight planning by the pilot-in-command in coordinating the adoption of measures and applying procedures to successfully remedy a stall condition caused by total loss of power in the left engine when the aircraft was flying at low altitude on final approach to land, in landing configuration.