[1][2] During the instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 33, the 747 crashed on a hill approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south east of the airport, killing 181 people, including 19 on-duty and four off-duty crew members.

[5] The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-200BM Combi[b] that first flew in 1977 and was delivered to Scandinavian Airlines System the same year.

[10] It was nighttime at the time of the accident, the meteorological conditions just before the crash consisted of a visibility of 8 kilometres (5 mi), and the wind was calm.

[2] About 20 minutes prior to the impact, the aircraft had obtained meteorological information on the weather conditions at Barajas from Avianca.

[1] The accident took place in the township of Mejorada del Campo, approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) southeast of the Madrid Airport.

The airplane was maintained in accordance with the prescribed maintenance program, and the navigation and approach aids were checked and found to be functioning correctly.

In addition, there was no record of malfunctions in the controllers' communications or radar equipment, and no evidence was discovered of defects in the aircraft engines or systems.

[1][13] Victims include several notable people invited to the Colombian Government's First meeting on Hispanoamerican culture (Spanish: Primer Encuentro de la Cultura Hispanoamericana).