What happened
On December 22, 2025, at approximately 13:56 local time, a Cessna 172S operating a visual flight rules (VFR) flight from Chillán (SCCH) to Santiago (SCTB) was involved in a runway excursion at the Eulogio Sánchez Aerodrome. The flight, which included the pilot and two passengers, initially attempted two landings that were unsuccessful due to the pilot's inability to stabilize the aircraft, resulting in a porpoising motion that forced the aircraft to overshoot the runway on both occasions.
During the third landing attempt, the aircraft made contact with the runway surface, at which point the left main landing gear tire burst. This failure led to a loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. During the excursion, the propeller blades struck the runway surface, and the lower fuselage area beneath the horizontal stabilizers sustained impact damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the site of the occurrence. The aircraft was removed from the runway to allow for the resumption of aerodrome operations. Physical inspection of the Cessna 172S revealed that the left main tire had been separated from its rim, and the tips of both propeller blades showed wear consistent with ground contact. Additionally, damage was noted on the fuselage underside near the empennage, and the condition of the engine was being evaluated.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the burst of the left main landing gear tire during the third landing attempt.
- The aircraft experienced unstable landing conditions, specifically porpoising, during the first two approach attempts.
- There were no injuries to the three occupants of the aircraft.
- The pilot held a valid private pilot license with 165 total flight hours.