What happened
On December 31, 2025, at approximately 09:00 local time, a Cessna T188C was performing agricultural spraying operations over a farm in the Quilleco commune, located in the Biobío Region. During the flight, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power, which forced the pilot to execute an emergency landing on an unprepared area within the agricultural property.
The aircraft came to rest alongside a secondary farm road. During the landing sequence, the aircraft's right-wing spray boom struck vegetation, causing the plane to pivot 90 degrees to the right. The landing resulted in the pilot remaining uninjured, though the aircraft sustained various damages.
The investigation
Investigators from DGAC Chile examined the crash site, which was situated within the "Campo San Carlos de Canteras" property. The terrain was characterized by sandy, semi-soft soil with vegetation approximately 1.5 meters high.
Upon inspection of the Cessna T188C, investigators noted that the left wing was in contact with the ground and the left main landing gear tire had become detached from its strut. While the propeller and flight control surfaces appeared intact, the spray boom on the trailing edge of the right wing was found bent and damaged. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was not carrying any chemical payloads at the time of the incident.