What happened
On the evening of the accident, a twin-engine aircraft departed from Santiago-Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Airport at 19:16 local time. The flight was an ambulance mission destined for Arica, carrying a total of six occupants, including one patient, three medical personnel, and two pilots.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft flew westward before turning toward a northerly heading. As the plane reached an altitude of 15,000 feet, the crew encountered unspecified technical difficulties. Approximately 13 minutes after the initial departure, the twin-engine airplane struck a mountain slope in the vicinity of Curacaví.
The wreckage was located the following afternoon by a Chilean Air Force Black Hawk helicopter crew. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and six fatalities, with no survivors among the passengers or crew.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced technical problems during the climb phase of the flight.