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

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
19
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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 De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Portezuelo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Portezuelo - Portezuelo
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight out from Portezuelo. On final approach, the single engine aircraft hit a flagpole and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild FC-2W2 in Portezuelo

Date & Time: May 24, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Ovalle – Santiago
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1960
Circumstances:
En route from Ovalle to Santiago, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. The aircraft came to rest on a hilly terrain located near Portezuelo, bursting into flames. All five occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
Washington Silva Escobar.
Passengers:
Cornelio Saavedra,
Eduardo Alessandri,
Pablo Passalacqua,
Raúl Marin.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Ford 5 in El Plomo: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1932 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC403H
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santiago – Mendoza – Buenos Aires
MSN:
5-AT-063
YOM:
1929
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
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 Fairchild FC-2W2 in Chillán: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
4
Survivors:
No
MSN:
519
YOM:
1929
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching Chillán Airport. All four occupants were killed, among them pilot Carlos Collao Carmona.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Ovalle

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC8418
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5-AT-056
YOM:
1929
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Ovalle Airport, the three engine airplane named 'San Cristobal' went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All seven occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairchild FC-2W2 off Caleta Buena

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1931 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC8026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Arauca – Antofagasta
MSN:
168
YOM:
1928
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a mail flight from Arauca to Antofagasta, carrying two crew members and eight mail bags. En route, in unclear circumstances, the airplane crashed into the sea off the beach of Piedra de las Montijitas, about 11 km north of Caleta Buena. Both crew members were uninjured and rescued by fishermen. The aircraft, written off, was later recovered and parked on a pier. Six mail bags were recovered.
Crew:
C. Thompson, pilot,
Luis Morales, pilot.

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

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
3
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago - Arica
MSN:
653
YOM:
1928
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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.

Crash of a Junkers R-42 off Punta Arenas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J6
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Montt – Punta Arenas
MSN:
928
YOM:
1926
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on approach to Punta Arenas, the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in the Strait of Magellan, off Punta Arenas. Both crew and a passenger were killed while three other occupants, among them General Arturo Merino Benítez, were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.