Investigation Summary
The flight was a routine scheduled service between Zumba and Loja. While transiting the mountainous terrain of the Andes, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions. Investigators determined that the pilot likely suffered from spatial disorientation while attempting to navigate the high-altitude passes in low visibility. The aircraft struck a mountain at an elevation that suggests the crew was unaware of their proximity to the terrain. There is a minor discrepancy in records regarding the occupant manifest: while most sources cite 41 passengers and 3 crew members, the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives records 40 passengers and 4 crew members; however, all 44 individuals on board were killed. Search and rescue efforts were significantly delayed by the same weather systems that caused the crash, as well as the dense vegetation and steep slopes of the crash site. It took until September 4 for helicopters to successfully land at the site and confirm there were no survivors.
Final Conclusions
The accident was classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). Contributing factors included bad weather and spatial disorientation of the flight crew, which led to the aircraft being flown into high ground while under the control of the pilots.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Spatial Orientation
The crew's ability to maintain awareness of the aircraft's position relative to the horizon and terrain was compromised by poor visibility.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a twin-engined piston transport built in Canada in 1967.
- 02The Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was 249.
- 03The crash site was located at coordinates 4°32′16″S 79°10′30″W.
- 04All 44 occupants perished in the accident.
- 05The flight was an internal scheduled passenger service within Ecuador.
- 06The wreckage was located in the Andes mountains near the parish of Valladolid.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Search and Rescue Coordination
The three-day delay in reaching the crash site highlighted the extreme difficulties of conducting search and rescue operations in the remote Andes during persistent severe weather, emphasizing the need for improved emergency locator technology and high-altitude rescue capabilities in the region.