What happened
On August 9, 2024, at approximately 10:36 local time, a Piper PA-31 Navajo, operating as an unscheduled passenger transport, crashed into a mountainside in the Las Horquetas sector of the Cerro Castillo National Park, Aysén Region. The aircraft had departed from Teniente Vidal Aerodrome (SCCY) bound for Chile Chico (SCCC).
Approximately 11 minutes into the flight, the aircraft struck the terrain. The impact was of high energy, creating a crater approximately 6 meters in diameter. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 7 occupants, including the pilot and six passengers. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a subsequent fire.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the wreckage at an elevation of approximately 3,262 feet. The investigation noted that both engines and propellers were found buried up to 1.8 meters deep in the earth, consistent with a high-energy impact. Due to the intensity of the post-crash fire, much of the aircraft's documentation, including the flight log and airworthiness certificates, was destroyed and could not be recovered.
Meteorological analysis revealed that at the time of the accident, a frontal cloud band was present over the area. While the local aerodrome forecast indicated relatively stable conditions, reanalysis data indicated that at the flight level of interest, temperatures were between -2°C and 0°C, and wind speeds were estimated to be near 90 km/h. The engines and propellers are being sent to the manufacturer in the United States for technical inspection.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating within its weight limits, with a takeoff weight of 6,463.63 lbs against a maximum structural takeoff weight of 6,700 lbs.
- The pilot was a commercial pilot with over 3,100 flight hours and valid medical and instrument ratings.
- Severe weather conditions, including high winds of approximately 90 km/h and freezing temperatures, were present in the vicinity of the impact site.
- The impact was characterized by high energy, as evidenced by the depth at which the engine components were embedded in the terrain.