What happened
On March 29, 2024, at approximately 14:40 local time, a Cessna 172K was conducting a flight instruction mission near the El Vergel Aerodrome (SCVG) in the Valdivia Province, Chile. The aircraft was occupied by a flight instructor and two student pilots. Following a successful landing at the grass runway, the crew attempted a takeoff maneuver. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered off the runway, crossed a boundary path, and struck vegetation and trees in a nearby depression. The impact caused the aircraft to strike the terrain at a steep angle, leading to a controlled descent into the ground. The student pilot at the controls sustained fatal thoracic trauma, while the flight instructor and the second student pilot suffered serious injuries.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the wreckage and the surrounding terrain to reconstruct the aircraft's trajectory. Physical evidence from the runway markings allowed investigators to distinguish the tracks of the accident aircraft from other visiting aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft overshot the end of the runway at heading 06 by at least 32 meters. After exiting the runway, the aircraft's path shifted 15 degrees to the right.
Analysis of the wreckage revealed significant structural damage, including a collapsed nose gear, fractured control yokes, and a deformed engine mount. Investigators identified that the left wing had struck heavy tree branches, which had been recently broken. The investigation also noted that the runway surface was highly saturated with moisture, and the vegetation at the end of the runway was thicker and taller than in the center of the strip due to water accumulation. While the engine was sent to the United States for inspection, preliminary findings from Lycoming Engines indicated no prior component failures that would have impacted power generation.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to lift off the ground, with tire marks indicating the wheels remained in contact with the terrain until the aircraft exited the runway.
- The aircraft's path deviated from the runway centerline, striking vegetation and trees located in a depression northeast of the airfield.
- The high moisture content of the runway and the soft, saturated terrain likely contributed to the loss of directional control during the takeoff roll.
- The aircraft struck heavy branches, causing significant structural deformation and an uncontrolled descent into the terrain.