The crew was engaged in a fire fighting mission under callsign 'Canso 31'. While approaching the fire zone at low height and ready to drop 5,000 liters of water, the airplane struck a pine tree with its left wing. Out of control, it crashed in a garden located in the district of Manquimávida, northeast of Chiguayante. Both pilots were killed instantly while the third occupant was seriously injured. He died while being transferred to the hospital. Crew: Carlos Paris Maldonado, pilot, Rolf Taucher, copilot, Jaime López Morales, observer.
Probable cause (official findings): Poor judgement on part of the flying crew who failed to see and avoid obstacles while flying at low height.