At the time of the accident, the aircraft was two years old and sustained 6,326 flight hours; its certificate of airworthiness (CofA) was issued 12 September 1962 and was due to expire on 22 May 1963.

At 03:43 UTC the flight departed from Rio en route to Lima carrying 80 passengers and 17 crew members.

When requesting permission to descend, air traffic control warned the Boeing 707 of the presence of a Douglas DC-6 that would also reach Pisco at 08:13, but the DC-6 was at an altitude of 13,500 feet (4,100 m).

The heading of the flight was 333° when it crashed into the Laz Cruz Peak, eight miles east from the approach track for the planned ILS course.

Analysis of data suggested it was possible that the pilot incorrectly tuned to the Limatambo Non-directional radio beacon in the belief it was for LIM 335.

The probable cause of the accident was cited as follows:"A deviation, for reasons unknown, from the track prescribed for the instrument approach along the ILS back course of Lima-Callao Airport.