Crash of a Convair CV-340-54 in Vallenar

Date & Time: May 7, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CLCA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
136
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Vallenar, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. For unknown reason, the crew was unable to feather the propeller and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located 5 km north of the airport and came to rest. All 30 occupants were evacuates safely.
Probable cause:
Engine failure. Prop unfeathered.

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

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
833
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
29198
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Antofagasta, killing both crew members, a pilot and a mechanic.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Lake Peñuelas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
560
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Quintero - Quintero
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Quintero Airport for a training mission in the region of Valparaiso. In unclear circumstances, the seaplane crashed into the Lake Peñuelas located about 12 km southeast of Valparaiso. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL on Mt La Gotera: 24 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1961 at 2115 LT
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CLDP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Castro – Puerto Montt – Osorno – Temuco – Santiago du Chili
MSN:
9716
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
LA210
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
6012
Copilot / Total flying hours:
489
Aircraft flight hours:
18299
Circumstances:
A Douglas DC-3C passenger plane, operated by LAN Chile, was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Linares, Chile. LAN flight 621 was a domestic passenger flight from Castro to Santiago with en route stops at Puerto Montt, Osorno and Temuco. On board the flight were eight players and the trainer of the Green Cross football team. The DC-3 took off from Temuco at 18:30 hours local time for the last leg of the flight, following Airway 45 and 40 at an altitude of 8,500 feet. Estimated flying time was 2 hours and 30 minutes. While en route the flight was instructed to climb to 9,500 feet because of other traffic at 8500 feet. At 19:10 the crew requested a descent to 9,000 feet because of ice formation on the wings. The controller didn't authorize the descent because of conflicting traffic (LAN flight 205) on Airway 4. The controller later cleared the flight to turn back on Airway 45 and then descend to 6,500 feet on the same Airway, pass over Curico and to continue on Airway 40 to the Santo Domingo beacon. There was no more radio contact with the flight. After seven days of search operations, the wreckage was found on April 10. The airplane had impacted Cerro La Gotera, a mountain located in a sector of Sierra de las Ánimas, and east-northeast of a hill named Lástimas del Pejerrey. The aircraft was flying in a south-westerly direction, impacting 50 m below the summit of the mountain, at an elevation of about 3,500 m (11,480 feet). The wreckage slid down about 14 meters before coming to rest.
Probable cause:
The aircraft crashed on La Gotera Hill in the Lastima-Pejerrey Range. From the wreckage's position it was determined that the flight was on a south-west heading, although owing to the aircraft's being entirely destroyed and burnt out it was not possible to state its speed or altitude, or whether the left engine had failed. At impact it appeared that the right engine was functioning normally. It was not possible to determine the cause of the accident from the navigation instruments or the wreckage.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Puerto Montt: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
933
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Quellón – Chaitén – Puerto Montt
MSN:
193
YOM:
1957
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Quellón to Puerto Montt with an intermediate stop at Chaitén, carrying spare parts for another FAC Otter registered 932. While approaching Puerto Montt, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity when the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Belén: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N68823
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Arica – Puerto Suarez
MSN:
26818
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Arica on a cargo flight to Puerto Suarez, overloaded by 1,000 pounds. En route, while overflying the Andes Mountains, the right engine lost power. As the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane struck stone walls and crashed in flames near Belén. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the failure of the right engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However as a result of it the exhaust valve of the number 10 cylinder had failed from its piston beating against the spark plugs and cylinder head.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK on Mt Osorno: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1959 at 1349 LT
Operator:
Registration:
952
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santiago – Punta Arenas
MSN:
12976
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the aircraft struck the slope of the volcano Osorno (2,652 meters high). The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a Chilean Army helicopter two days later. All seven occupants were killed in the accident.

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Cochrane

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1958 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CSA-489
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Aysén - Cochrane
MSN:
6948
YOM:
1944
Country:
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 Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando near Arica

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CNC-466
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
443
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Arica. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Valparaiso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
101
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
A-1017
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances three km from Valparaíso Airport, killing both pilots.