What happened
During a cargo operation departing from Punta Arenas, a four-engine aircraft was conducting a flight that included six crew members, two passengers, and a group of sled dogs. While performing the final approach phase of the flight, the pilot attempted to adjust the flight path to steer clear of areas of fog in order to keep the ground in sight.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of 450 feet, the pilot applied additional power to the engines. Despite this attempt to arrest the descent, the plane continued to lose altitude and eventually impacted the ground in the vicinity of a camp. Although the impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, rendering it a total loss, all eight occupants and the animals on board were successfully evacuated without any reported injuries or deaths.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to deviate from the established approach path to maintain visual contact with the terrain.
- Continued descent despite an increase in engine power during the final approach.