Punta Arenas – Puerto Montt – Santiago

On July 24, 1977 at 07:00 PM, Punta Arenas – Puerto Montt – Santiago experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by Chilean Air Force - Fuerza Aérea de Chile, with the event recorded near Puerto Montt-El Tepual Región de Los Lagos.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

82 people were known to be on board, 38 fatalities were recorded, 44 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 46.3%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 7, passengers on board: 75, passenger fatalities: 31, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Puerto Montt-El Tepual Airport, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with rain falls and a limited visibility due to the night. In unknown circumstances, the four engine airplane crashed in flames in a swampy area located five km short of runway. All seven crew members and 31 passengers were killed while 44 other occupants were injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration 989, MSN 45534/1012, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -41.4286°, -73.0731°.