What happened
On February 3, 2022, at approximately 19:00 local time, a Cessna 172S crashed into the northwest slope of the Villarrica volcano in Chile. The aircraft was participating in a scheduled navigation training flight between Villarrica (SCVI) and Cañal Bajo (SCJO) as part of a Civil Aviation Training Center program.
The flight involved three aircraft flying in formation. The aircraft involved in the accident was being operated by a commercial pilot acting as an instructor's assistant, accompanied by three student pilots. Following takeoff, the aircraft failed to maintain radio contact with the other aircraft in the formation. After the activation of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was detected, the other two aircraft in the formation returned to Villarrica, and the wreckage of the Cessna 172S was subsequently located on the volcanic slope.
The accident resulted in two fatalities and two serious injuries.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the flight path, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the crew's performance. The investigation established that the aircraft's trajectory did not align with the filed flight plan or the communications broadcast on the frequency.
Investigators analyzed the cockpit environment and found evidence of distractions during previous flights. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance, noting that the aircraft was operating at a weight exceeding the maximum takeoff weight permitted by the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). Furthermore, the investigation looked into the crew's use of cockpit navigation devices and the impact of external environmental factors during the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact of the aircraft at a low altitude against trees, which led to a loss of control and a subsequent impact with the terrain.
- The aircraft was operating at an altitude that did not maintain the minimum vertical separation required for VFR operations over non-populated areas.
- The flight path deviated significantly from the planned route and the filed flight plan.
- The aircraft was operating with a weight exceeding the maximum takeoff weight.
- The crew experienced a loss of situational awareness, characterized by a lack of external visual monitoring due to attention being focused on cockpit navigation instruments.
- The presence of distractors within the cockpit contributed to the degradation of the crew's ability to monitor the surrounding environment.
- The aircraft struck the canopy of a tree in a positive pitch attitude, causing structural damage that ruptured the fuel lines and led to engine failure.