Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in the Drake Passage: 38 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 2019 at 1813 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
990
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Punta Arenas - Teniente Marsh
MSN:
4776
YOM:
1978
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Santiago de Chile at 1021LT and landed at Punta Arenas for a technical stop at 1444LT. It took off at 1653LT on a leg to Teniente Rodolfo Marsh-Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Airport located on King George Island, Antarctica, carrying 21 passengers and 17 crew members. After flying a distance of about 390 NM, while in cruising altitude, the radar contact was lost, vertical to the Drake Passage. SAR operations were initiated jointly by the Chilean, Uruguay and Argentine Air Forces which dispatched several aircraft over the area. Two days later, debris were found floating on water. It seems that none of the 38 occupants survived the crash.

Crash of a Gulfstream GIII off Punta Arenas: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 2017 at 1343 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV2896
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Porlamar
MSN:
469
YOM:
1986
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching the Island of Margarita, en route from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport to Porlamar, the crew encountered control difficulties and informed ATC about hydraulic problems. The crew initiated a rapid descent to 3,000 feet apparently to ditch the aircraft when it went out of control and crashed in the sea about 16 km west off Punta Arenas. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and only few debris were found floating on water. All nine occupants were killed, among them officers flying on behalf of the Vice-Presidency of the Venezuelan Government.

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Porvenir

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CC-CAK
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porvenir – Punta Arenas
MSN:
BA-306
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the right engine failed. The airplane banked right, causing the right main gear to struck the ground and to be torn off. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine at takeoff for unknown reasons.