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After the passengers boarded and the pre-flight checklists were completed, the King Air C90 took off from Santa Genoveva Airport at 1:05 PM. The ascent was normal, and cruising was uneventful, with the aircraft reaching an altitude of about 21,000 feet. Approximately one hour and fifty minutes into the flight, the descent began about 80 km from the destination. The pilots adjusted the flight path due to weather conditions, avoiding turbulence and rain.
However, as the aircraft approached Caratinga—an airport lacking radar control or a control tower—the pilots were required to announce their position on a shared frequency. They began their descent but extended their downwind leg due to safety concerns, potentially placing the aircraft too low considering the surrounding terrain.