Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Puerto Aysén: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CC-COA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
30576
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Puerto Aysén Airport, the airplane banked left then entered a dive and crashed few km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left elevator that detached in flight, causing the airplane to become uncontrollable.

Crash of a Grumman HU-16B Albatross near Quilpué: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1973
Operator:
Registration:
251
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, a technical problem occurred on the fuel supply system, causing a loss of engine power. The captain elected to fly over the mountains surrounding Quilpué on one engine but the seaplane struck a hill and crashed. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power caused by a technical problem on the fuel supply system.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Arica

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CLA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago – Iquique – Arica
MSN:
30564
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Santiago to Arica with an intermediate stop in Iquique, carrying a crew of five and a load of newspapers. While descending to Arica-Chacalluta Airport, the airplane caught fire for unknown reason. The pilot-in-command continued the approach and was able to land properly. After touchdown, he stopped the airplane on the runway and all five occupants evacuated the cabin before the aircraft would be partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
In-flight fire for unknown reason.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Segundo Corral: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
938
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
16
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered an engine failure in flight and the crew elected to divert to Segundo Corral Airport when the airplane crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B in the Andes Mountains: 29 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1972 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-571
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Montevideo - Santiago du Chili
MSN:
572
YOM:
1968
Flight number:
URUGUAY571
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
41
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
29
Captain / Total flying hours:
5117
Aircraft flight hours:
792
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Montevideo on a charter flight to Santiago de Chile under callsign Uruguay 571, carrying members of the rugby team 'Old Christians', en route to Chile to take part to a tournament. All passengers were players, supporters and members of their family. While in cruising altitude in marginal weather conditions, the crew encountered altitude turbulences due to the mountain proximity and clouds. Despite the pilot increased full power on both engines, the airplane was unable to maintain a safe altitude when, at a speed of 350 km/h, the right wing struck a rocky ridge and was torn off. Few seconds later, the airplane struck a second ridge, causing the left wing and the tail to be torn off. The aircraft planed for few seconds before it crashed in a snow covered area located at an altitude of 3,900 meters in the Chilean Andes. Few passengers were injured while eight others were killed. Some survivors elected to contact rescuers but the VHF system was out of order. A day after the accident, the pilot of a Chilean Air Force trainer made a pass over the area but failed to sea the wreckage due to clouds. After three days, SAR operations were suspended by the authorities. After 72 days by extreme low temperatures, three survivors walked away and found help in a village. On December 22, 1972, two helicopters of the Chilean Air Force arrived on the scene and were able to evacuate 16 survivors while 29 other occupants died from their injuries, cold or of hunger.

Crash of a Canadair CL-44-6 in Chile: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LV-JYR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Montevideo – Santiago
MSN:
7
YOM:
1961
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft departed Montevideo-Carrasco Airport on a cargo flight to Santiago-Pudahuel Airport, carrying six crew members and a load of 28 tons of meat. En route, while cruising in poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the Andes, or in Chile or in Argentina. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Santiago de Chile: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CDU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
33369
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Santiago-Pudahuel Airport runway 35, the airplane struck the slope of Mt El Ovejero located near Maipú, about 15 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. For unknown reason, the airplane was approaching the airport at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Santiago

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1972 at 1145 LT
Registration:
CC-CEU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago - Santiago
MSN:
680-511-181
YOM:
1958
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Santiago-Los Cerrillos Airport. Following three successful landings, the crew attempted a fourth landing when the twin engine airplane landed hard. On touchdown, one of the main landing gear partially collapsed and the airplane rolled for about 500 meters before it veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. While both pilots were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Putre: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1971 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-926
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santa Cruz - Arica
MSN:
43043/83
YOM:
1947
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was completing a cargo flight from Santa Cruz to Arica, Chile. While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet under VFR mode, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane struck the slope of Mt Nevados de Putre located 12 km northeast of Putre. The wreckage was found few hours later. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F Commando in Santiago de Chile: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1971 at 0426 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santiago - Arica
MSN:
50
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 03 at Santiago-Los Cerrillos Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot declared an emergency after the right engine failed. He elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 2 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb due to the failure of the right engine for reasons that investigations could not accurately determine due to the destruction of the engines. Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to correlate the right engine failure and a possible overloading of the aircraft with the operation (normaL or not) of the left engine.