What happened
An IFR flight plan was originally filed for a journey originating in Guayaquil and destined for Cuenca. During the transit, after the aircraft had passed over Puna, the pilot elected to cancel the instrument flight plan and proceed using visual flight rules (VFR).
As the four-engine airplane began its descent toward the destination airport, the crew encountered heavy cloud cover. During this period of low visibility, the aircraft's altitude became insufficient for the terrain. The plane subsequently collided with a mountain slope situated only a few kilometers from the Cuenca airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and 24 fatalities, with no survivors reported.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew initiated their descent prematurely while operating under VFR conditions within cloud layers. This decision led to the aircraft flying below the required minimum safety altitudes, ultimately resulting in controlled flight into terrain.