Incident Overview
On August 3, 2021, a Cessna 337H aircraft, piloted by a commercial pilot with one passenger, was on a cross-country flight from San Fernando Airport (SCSD) to Diego Aracena Airport (SCDA) in Chile. The flight included a stop at Caldera Airport (SCCL), where no refueling occurred. Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes after departing Caldera, while about 69 nautical miles south of the destination, the front engine stopped and the rear engine began sputtering (rateos). The pilot declared an emergency with Iquique Radio and decided to land on Route 1 highway in the area of Playa Quebrada Honda-Caleta Honda, Antofagasta Region.
Flight Details
The flight had initially departed San Fernando with a full fuel load. After 3 hours and 40 minutes of flight, the aircraft landed at Caldera for a stopover. No additional fuel was taken on board. The pilot then continued toward the destination. The total flight time from San Fernando to the emergency landing was not specified, but the leg from Caldera lasted about 2 hours 20 minutes.
Emergency Landing
Due to the power loss, the pilot performed an emergency landing on the highway. The landing was successful, and both the pilot and passenger exited the aircraft without injury. The aircraft itself sustained no damage. No other property damage was reported.
Occupants and Damage
The pilot, aged 50, held a commercial pilot license and was medically fit. He had no prior accident history. The passenger was uninjured. The aircraft was a Cessna 337H; no registration was provided in the report. The aircraft's maintenance status was documented as current, and the weight and balance were within limits according to the pilot's calculations.