What happened
On September 9, 2024, a Bombardier DHC-8-402 operating a non-scheduled commercial passenger flight arrived at Aeródromo "Guardiamarina Zañartu" (SCGZ) in Puerto Williams. The aircraft, which carried 76 occupants consisting of eight crew members and 68 passengers, was on final approach to runway 26 when the incident occurred.
According to the pilot in command, the flight proceeded without issue until touchdown. During the initial contact with the runway surface, the "Tail Strike" indicator light illuminated. The crew noted that the landing felt hard but did not perceive any other anomalies at the time. After disembarking, the captain inspected the aircraft and confirmed that the lower section of the tail, located beneath the cargo compartments, had struck the pavement.
Despite the impact, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The aircraft sustained damage to its structure but remained on the apron at the aerodrome.
The investigation — what DGAC Chile examined and established
The Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) conducted a preliminary inquiry into the event, focusing on the sequence of events, maintenance records, and flight data. Investigators retrieved the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) from the aircraft. The FDR data was shared with the manufacturer for analysis.
Data from the recorder indicated that at the moment of touchdown, the aircraft had a pitch angle of approximately 9.05 degrees nose-up and experienced a vertical load factor of 2.67 Gs. This high pitch attitude during landing is consistent with a tail strike event where the rear fuselage contacts the runway before or as the main gear touches down.
Physical inspection of the site revealed skid marks on the runway surface 89 meters from the threshold of runway 26, confirming the location of the impact. Examination of the aircraft showed significant damage to the lower central fuselage skin under the cargo section, including deformation, fractures, and severed rivets. Internal structures, such as stringers and frames beneath the cargo floor, also exhibited broken rivets and structural distortion. The tail strike sensor itself was destroyed by the impact and subsequent dragging.
Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft had completed a daily check on September 6, 2024, and was certified for service. The operator adhered to the approved maintenance program. Meteorological reports from the time of the incident noted cloudy conditions and increased winds due to a cyclonic system in the Magallanes region.
Findings
The primary factor identified in the preliminary findings is the high pitch attitude maintained during the landing phase, which resulted in the lower tail section contacting the runway surface. The vertical load factor recorded at impact suggests a hard landing dynamic. While specific pilot actions are under further review for the final report, the data confirms that the geometric configuration of the aircraft at touchdown exceeded the clearance limits for the tail skid area.