Santiago de Chile | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was returning to Santiago following an official visit in Argentina. The airplane departed Morón AFB, made a technical stop at Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport then departed for the last leg to Santiago de Chile. En route, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew was unable to continue. The captain attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a rocky area located on an island in the Lontué River. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-118A on Mt Mercedario: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

NC14272

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago de Chile – Arica

MSN:

1305

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Santiago on a cargo flight to Arica. While cruising over the Andes Mountains, the aircraft disappeared. As it failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew was found. Walkers found the wreckage in February 1941 on the slope of Mt Mercedario, in the west part of the Argentinian Andes.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Fairchild FC-2W2 in Ovalle: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1936

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild FC-2

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Ovalle Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a ravine, bursting into flames. All five occupants were killed, among them the pilot Mario Meneses Rocco.

Crash of a Fairchild FC-2W2 on Mt Pelado: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1933 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild FC-2

Operator:

Registration:

NC9723

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Mendoza – Santiago de Chile

MSN:

527

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Mendoza Airport at 0945LT on a cargo flight to Santiago de Chile. About 15 minutes later, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Pelado located some 25 km northwest of Mendoza. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Mr. McMillan,
Mr. Drymond.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Ford 5 in El Plomo: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1932 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Ford 5

Operator:

Registration:

NC403H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago – Mendoza – Buenos Aires

MSN:

5-AT-063

YOM:

1929

Location:

El Plomo

Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions east of Santiago de Chile over the Andes Mountains, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to heavy snow falls. The aircraft impacted a mountain slope and crashed near El Plomo. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the 9 occupants was found. Twenty months later, in March 1934, ramblers discovered the wreckage in an uninhabited area. The aircraft was named 'San José'.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Cirrus II Moth in Santiago

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1930

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Santiago - Arica

MSN:

653

YOM:

1928

Location:

Santiago de Chile

Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after takeoff from Santiago on a flight to Arica. There were no casualties. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown, somewhere in 1930.