Accident Overview
On July 10, 2008, at approximately 1028 Atlantic Standard Time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company 99A, Chilean registration CC-CFM, experienced an in-flight loss of control and crashed in an area of rising terrain about 1 mile north of La Paloma Airport (SCPF) in Puerto Montt, Chile. The aircraft was operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from SCPF to Aerodromo de Melinka (SCMK) in Melinka, Chile. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight had originated from SCPF at about 1025.
Sequence of Events
According to personnel from the Chilean Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil (DGAC), shortly after takeoff the pilot announced on the airport multi-communication frequency that he was returning due to an unspecified problem. Witnesses reported that the aft cowling of the left engine "fluttered" but did not separate from the aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the rising terrain.
Damage and Casualties
The airplane was destroyed by the impact and a postcrash fire. The commercial certificated pilot and all eight passengers aboard were killed.
Investigation
The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Chile. Further information may be obtained from the Direccion General de Aeronáutica Civil, located at Miguel Claro 1314 Providencia, Santiago, Chile.