What happened
Shortly after departing Santa Clara with a destination of Havana, the flight crew identified a mechanical issue involving a fuel leak. Consequently, the decision was made to turn back toward the departure airport. However, meteorological conditions worsened rapidly during this period, resulting in significantly reduced visibility.
In an apparent attempt to regain visual reference with the terrain, the pilot lowered the aircraft's altitude. This maneuver led to a collision with the roof of a residential structure in Esperanza, located approximately 9 kilometers northwest of Santa Clara. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. Tragically, all seven individuals on board were killed in the accident. There were no reported injuries among people on the ground.
Findings
The primary contributing factors to the fatal outcome included the initial mechanical failure requiring an immediate return and the subsequent deterioration of weather conditions. The low visibility likely necessitated a lower altitude for visual navigation, which ultimately led to the controlled flight into terrain.