Accident Overview
On December 31, 2025, at approximately 09:00 local time (12:00 UTC), a commercial pilot was operating a Cessna model T188C aircraft while performing aerial fumigation over an agricultural property in the commune of Quilleco, Biobío Region, Chile. During the flight, the aircraft suffered a loss of power, necessitating an emergency landing on an unprepared area within the same property. The pilot emerged uninjured, and the aircraft was damaged.
Location and Environment
The accident site was located inside a private agricultural property named "Campo San Carlos de Canteras," owned by Agrícola Fresno, in Quilleco. The city of Los Ángeles lies approximately 32 km to the southwest. The terrain elevation averaged 300 meters above mean sea level. The ground surface consisted of semi-soft sandy soil, with vegetation approximately 1.5 meters high.
Aircraft and Landing Sequence
The aircraft came to rest on the right side (in the direction of travel) of a secondary road used by agricultural machinery. The first ground contact marks from the aircraft on the road were found 135 meters east of its final position. During the landing roll, the wing tips damaged vegetation on both sides of the road. The final heading of the aircraft was 04° north, and it was tilted to the left, with the left wing touching the ground.
Aircraft Condition
The airframe was intact, and all flight control surfaces remained connected and functional from the cockpit to the control surfaces. The left main landing gear tire had detached from its strut. The flaps were found extended, and the propeller showed no damage. The aircraft carried no chemicals at the time of the accident. The right-wing spray bar (fumigation boom) was damaged and twisted; this finding was consistent with the pilot's report that during the final ground roll, the spray bar snagged on vegetation, causing the aircraft to rotate 90° to the right. The cockpit and cabin area showed no apparent damage.
Investigation Status
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities collecting evidence and analyzing information to determine the cause of the accident and to formulate operational safety recommendations for this type of aircraft.