South America | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin aircraft departed Guanambi Airport to perform a low level survey flight in the region of Espinosa, carrying two observers and one pilot. About two hours into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 330 feet, the right engine lost power then failed. While executing the emergency checklist, the left engine failed as well. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Both passengers evacuated with minor injuries and the pilot was killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

There was sufficient fuel in the tanks at the time of the accident as the aircraft was refueled prior to departure for a 5-hour flight. The exact cause of the double engine failure remains unknown. When the right engine failed, the pilot was flying at an altitude of 330 feet which was below the minimum safe altitude fixed at 500 feet. Also, he was apparently using his cell phone.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Sabreliner 75A at El Palomar AFB

Date & Time: Jul 4, 2012 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Sabreliner 75

Operator:

Registration:

AE-175

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

380-13

YOM:

1974

Location:

El Palomar AFB

Buenos Aires province

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was returning to El Palomar AFB, near Buenos Aires, carrying three crew members and six passengers, among them General Luis Pozzi, Chief of the Argentinian Army. Upon landing, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on runway then veered to the right before coming to rest in a grassy area. All 9 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. General Pozzi was returning to El Palomar Air Base following a review of the troops in the Pampa Province.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in La Leona: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 2012 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

EJC-1131

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Tolemaida - Saravena

MSN:

208B-1199

YOM:

2007

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from the Tolemaida Air Base to the airport of Saravena-Los Colonizadores. Few minutes after takeoff, while flying some 35 km from its departure point, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in La Leona. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Swearingen SA227AC Metro III off Montevideo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 2012 at 1955 LT

Type of aircraft:

Swearingen SA227 Metro III

Operator:

Registration:

CX-LAS

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Montevideo - Buenos Aires

MSN:

AC-482

YOM:

1982

Location:

Montevideo

Montevideo City District

Country:

Uruguay

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16177

Copilot / Total flying hours:

406

Aircraft flight hours:

26158

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Montevideo to Buenos Aires on behalf of DHL. The aircraft departed runway 24 at Montevideo-Carrasco Airport at 1945LT and the crew was cleared to climb to FL080. While reaching a height of 4,500 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea at a speed of 570 knots which caused its disintegration off Flores Island. Few debris were found the following day floating on water but the main wreckage was localized two weeks later about one NM south of Flores Island. The CVR was found on 02AUG2012 but was unreadable as the content was concerning the last 30 minutes of the precedent flight. On 11FEB2013, fishermen found the cargo door in their fishnet. No trace of the cargo nor the crew was ever found.

Probable cause:

Investigations determined that both engines were running normally at impact, that no propeller blades were lost during descent, that fuel was not contaminated and that no problems occurred on the on electrical system. Meteorological Office confirmed that severe icing conditions prevailed at the time of the accident between FL010 and FL150. The loss of control was the consequence of erroneous indications of the flight instruments, associated with the possible formation of crystalline ice on the aircraft' structure, causing a loss of situational awareness of the crew.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Shrike Commander 500S off El Loa: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 2012 at 0150 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Shrike Commander 500

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CGX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iquique - Iquique

MSN:

500-3306

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

20183

Captain / Total hours on type:

10000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3755

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2137

Aircraft flight hours:

16308

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Iquique-General Diego Aracena Airport at 2115LT on May 17 on a fishing survey and prospection mission over the Pacific Ocean, carrying two pilots. There was sufficient fuel on board for a 7,5-hour flight. While cruising by night, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea about 30 km northwest of El Loa. Few debris were found floating on water the following morning. Both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

A loss of control in flight for unknown reasons.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Santa Cruz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 2012 at 0813 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CP-1319

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Santa Cruz - Cobija

MSN:

22428

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12500

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3219

Aircraft flight hours:

29080

Circumstances:

The crew departed Santa Cruz-Viru Viru Airport at 0807LT on a cargo flight to Cobija-E. Beltram Airport. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, the crew informed ATC he was returning but did not give any details about his situation. On final approach, the aircraft adopted a high-nose attitude, climbed then stalled and crashed 200 metres short of runway, bursting into flames. The passenger was seriously injured and all three crew members were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was that the aircraft, while on short finals and cleared to land, made an unusual flight maneuver by climbing almost vertically until a wing stall and plunging violently against the terrain, bursting into flames within the security area of the runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C90B King Air in Jundiaí: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 2012 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Tufy Lemos Filho

Registration:

PP-WCA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Jundiaí - Jundiaí

MSN:

LJ-1676

YOM:

2002

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole aboard, was completing a local flight from Jundiaí-Comandante Rolim Adolfo Amaro Airport. Shortly after takeoff from runway 36, the pilot reported to ATC that the engine lost power and that he was not able to maintain a safe altitude. He was cleared for an immediate return and completed a circuit. On final approach to runway 18, he lost control of the airplane that crashed 180 metres short of runway and came to rest upside down, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

The following factors were identified:
- Upon intercepting the final leg for landing, the aircraft crossed the approach axis, and the pilot, in an attempt to make the aircraft join the approach axis again, may have depressed the rudder pedal in an inadequate manner, inadvertently making the aircraft enter a Cross Control Stall.
- The pilot, intentionally, violated a number of aeronautical regulations in force in order to fly an aircraft for which he had no training and was not qualified.
- The short experience of the pilot in the aircraft model hindered the correct identification of the situation and the adoption of the necessary corrective measures.
- The DCERTA’s vulnerability allowed a non-qualified pilot to file a flight notification by making use of the code of a qualified pilot. Thus, the last barrier capable of preventing the accident flight to be initiated was easily thrown down, by making it difficult to implement a more effective supervisory action.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air in Puerto Aguirre: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 2012 at 0056 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 350 Super King Air

Operator:

Registration:

CC-AEB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Punta Arenas - Santiago

MSN:

FL-128

YOM:

1995

Location:

Puerto Aguirre

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:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2578

Captain / Total hours on type:

61.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2296

Copilot / Total hours on type:

118

Aircraft flight hours:

6218

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was performing an ambulance flight from Puntas Arenas to Santiago with two pilots on board, one patient, three doctors and two relatives. Following an uneventful flight at FL280, the crew was cleared to descend when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent while the crew was in contact with Puerto Montt ATC. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed on the north slope of the Macá volcano, some 10 km northeast of Puerto Aguirre. The wreckage was found in the morning of March 24 at an altitude of 2,347 metres. The aircraft disintegrated and all 8 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 off in Caballococha

Date & Time: Mar 9, 2012 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Operator:

Registration:

FAP-317

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Iquitos - Caballococha

MSN:

324

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane landed hard in the Caballococha's Laguna. Upon landing on water, the right float was torn off, the aircraft overturned and sank. All 11 occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was performing a flight from Iquitos on behalf of the 42nd Group of the Peruvian Air Force.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R near Quellón: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 2012 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-310 Navajo

Operator:

Registration:

CC-CYM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Melinka – Quellón

MSN:

31-8012016

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10508

Aircraft flight hours:

3406

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Melinka Airport at 1200LT on a taxi flight to Quellón, carrying seven passengers and one pilot. Eight minutes later, the pilot reported his position at 6,500 feet some 20 NM south of the destination. Six minutes later, at 1214LT, he reported at 3,000 feet some 10 NM southwest of Quellón. Shortly later, radar and radio contacts were lost after the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Piedra Blanca Mountain Range. The wreckage was found 15 km southwest of Quellón. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with rain, fog and strong winds.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain following the decision of the pilot to continue the flight under VFR mode in IMC conditions.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Cloudy conditions affecting the area where the accident occurred,
- Entering IMC conditions without clearance,
- Not maintaining the flight under VFR.

Final Report:

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