What happened
During an approach to Ibagué-Perales Airport, the flight crew encountered adverse weather conditions that prevented them from identifying the runway. In response to the lack of visibility, the captain elected to perform a go-around. The crew notified air traffic control of their intention to divert to an alternate airfield should a subsequent landing attempt also prove unsuccessful.
Shortly after this decision, while maintaining an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft collided with the slope of Mt Saludo, situated approximately 5.6 km west of the airport. The force of the impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were 15 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
- The crew was operating in poor weather conditions that obscured the runway.
- The collision occurred during the approach phase while the aircraft was attempting to navigate the terrain.