Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a four-engine airplane departed Quito-Mariscal Sucre Airport at 0708 local time on a scheduled service (flight number EH011) to Cuenca. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain and disappeared from radar screens. Search and rescue operations were initiated but were eventually abandoned a few days later after no trace of the aircraft or its 57 occupants was found.
Wreckage Discovery
Approximately five years after the accident, the wreckage was located in a mountainous area in the region of Shell-Mera, province of Pastaza.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be controlled flight into terrain. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 25 nautical miles for undetermined reasons.