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

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Suravia
Registration:
CC-COA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30576
YOM:
1944
Location:
Puerto Aysén
Región Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
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 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
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
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:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
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.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Cochrane

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1958 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C18S
Operator:
LASLI-Chile
Registration:
CC-CSA-489
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Aysén - Cochrane
MSN:
6948
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cochrane
Región Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Cochrane Airport, the right tire burst. Both main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded on its belly and came to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was not repaired.
Probable cause:
The right tire burst upon landing.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers Vedette off Santa Elena Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1930 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers Vedette
Operator:
Línea Aérea Experimental
Registration:
5
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Puerto Montt - Puerto Aysén
Location:
Santa Elena Island
Región Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of about 500 metres on a flight from Puerto Montt to Puerto Aysén, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. Control was lost and the airplane crashed in the estuary of the Aysén River, off the Santa Elena Island. Commander Arturo Merino Benítez (First Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force), who was in Puerto Montt that day, initiated a SAR operation with his mechanic aboard the Junkers G24 registered J6 which had been fitted with floats at the base of Chamiza. Unfortunately, all operations were suspended after two days as no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Crew:
Lt Aníbal Vidal Silva, pilot,
Cpl Alfredo Román Garay, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Loss of control probably consecutive to intense gusts/downdrafts while approaching the Santa Elena Island which is permanently affected by storms and covered by banks of fog.
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