Chile | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful flight from Santiago de Chile (flight LCO213), the crew started the descent to Coyhaique-Teniente Vidal Airport when the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a mountainous area. The wreckage was found few hours later 24 km northwest of Coyhaique, in an uninhabited area. The aircraft was destroyed and all 36 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the airplane encountered severe atmospheric turbulences, causing the right wing to detach in flight.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Chaitén

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CLB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Puerto Montt – Chaitén

MSN:

14832/26277

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

23720

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a ferry flight from Puerto Montt-El Tepual Airport to Chaitén. The airplane was operated by Eduardo Rubio Guarderas. The landing was completed in the first third of the runway but it appeared the aircraft struck rubble on the ground, damaging both main gears. On of them then collapsed and the airplane veered off runway before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in La Yareta Pass

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CDH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

32940

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight within Chile, carrying four crew members and a load of five tons of meat. In unknown circumstances, it crashed on a mountain slope located near the La Yarita Pass. All four crew members were injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando on Mt Planchón-Peteroa: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

HK-527

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bogotá – La Paz – Santiago – Buenos Aires

MSN:

33215

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a special cargo flight from Bogotá to Buenos Aires with intermediate stops in La Paz and Santiago de Chile, carrying five passengers, three crew members and a load of eight bulls for an exhibition in Buenos Aires. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Planchón-Peteroa (4,107 meters high) located about 200 km south of Santiago. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually found on 18 November 1966. All eight occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas B-26C Invader in Chile: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

812

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago - Antofagasta

MSN:

7050

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while completing a flight from Santiago to Antofagasta. The airplane crashed in a mountainous area, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B on Mt San José: 87 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1965 at 0836 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CCG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Santiago – Buenos Aires – Montevideo

MSN:

45513/1004

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

LA107

Location:

Mt San José

Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

17085

Circumstances:

Flight 107 was a scheduled international fiight from Los Cerrillos Airport, Santiago (Chile) to Montevideo, Uruguay, with a scheduled stop at Buenos Aires, Argentina. The flight plan was as follows:
(a) VMC - Santiago - Melipilla - Cerro Maipo climbing to 19 000 feet,
(b) VMC - Cerro Maipo - San Rafael - Huinca Renanco - Junin - Suipacha - Buenos Aires (Ezeiza) in level flight at 19 800 feet.
The aircraft took off at 0806 hours from south to north in the direction of the city of Santiago. It flew low over the city in the Cerro San Cristobal area and later between 0810 and 0812 hours in the vicinity of Cerro Marquehue. At 0817 hours, it made radio contact with Panagra Control to request a change of route via Amarillo - Tumuyan Viejo - Reynolds 5,700 m. Mendoza Control authorized the change of route and asked for the estimated time over Amarillo. The flight replied that it estimated reaching Amarillo at 0336 hours. At 0822 the radio contact came to an end. The aircraft continued inland at low altitude in relation to the surrounding terrain, via Farellones, Lagunillas, Planta Queltehue and Lo Valdés. At 0836 hours, several witnesses saw the aircraft crash into the ridge joining the Catedral and Corona peaks. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 87 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was caused by lack of discipline on the part of the pilot-in- command of the aircraft who did not follow the instructions of the flight plan or those relating to crossing the mountains.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando in Santiago de Chile

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CIB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26468

YOM:

1943

Location:

Santiago de Chile-Los Cerrillos

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 on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas B-26 Invader in Peldehue: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-26 Invader

Operator:

Registration:

823

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Peldehue - Peldehue

MSN:

7040

YOM:

1941

Location:

Peldehue

Región Metropolitana de Santiago

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a demonstration flight, taking part to the celebrations of the 34th Anniversary of the Chilean Air Force. While approaching at low height in front of 6,000 spectators, the left engine caught fire. The captain modified his route and left the area to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft lost height. While the captain was able to bail out, both other crew members, the copilot and the flight mechanic, were killed when the airplane crashed in flames in an open field.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire on the left engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Puerto Aysén: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1963 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

953

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Coihaique – Pueto Aysén

MSN:

19465

YOM:

1944

Location:

Puerto Aysén

Región Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo

Country:

Chile

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Puerto Aysén on a flight from Coihaique-Teniente Vidal Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Pérez located 42 km from the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while 19 other occupants were killed.