Investigation Summary
The flight was a relief mission supporting reconstruction efforts following the 2010 Chile earthquake. During the three hour transit from Santiago, the crew faced significant headwinds and was forced to climb to FL150, well above their authorized FL090, to avoid storms. Upon arrival at Robinson Crusoe Island, the crew attempted to land on Runway 14 but overflew the strip due to conditions. They then attempted a teardrop maneuver to line up for Runway 32. During this second approach, the aircraft encountered a highly unstable atmosphere characterized by counter-rotating vortexes in the wake of Santa Clara Island. The investigation determined that the aircraft was flying a low trajectory, approximately 650 feet above the sea, when it was hit by sudden wind shear and turbulence. This caused a rapid loss of control, resulting in an uncontrolled roll to the left. The aircraft struck the water in an inverted attitude, causing the airframe to shatter upon impact. A recovered SD card from a passenger's camera, which had been intentionally secured inside a water bottle by photographer Romina Irarrázabal before the impact or as the aircraft began to sink, contained photographs documenting the final moments, including the cabin floor and the water level rising against a window.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was a loss of control due to extreme and adverse airflow conditions. These conditions included a very unstable atmosphere with powerful down gusts, the presence of two counter-rotating vortexes in the downwind wake of Santa Clara Island, and strong, gusty crosswinds that varied rapidly in strength and direction. The crew's decision to perform the approach at a very low altitude (650 feet or less) left them with insufficient height to recover from the sudden atmospheric disturbances.
Video Analysis
Air Accident: A plane crashes in Chile (2011) — News coverage and archival footage regarding the 2011 Chilean Air Force CASA 212 crash near Robinson Crusoe Island.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
CASA C-212 Aviocar 300DF
A twin-turboprop STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) medium transport aircraft designed for civil and military use.
Santa Clara Island Wake
The terrain of the nearby Santa Clara Island created two counter-rotating vortexes that contributed to the loss of control.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash killed popular Chilean TV host Felipe Camiroaga and philanthropist Felipe Cubillos.
- 02The aircraft was manufactured in 1994 and had the serial number 443.
- 03The flight was part of a reconstruction mission following the 2010 Chile earthquake.
- 04Investigators found the aircraft struck the water with a bank angle significantly past 90 degrees.
- 05The accident is the third deadliest in the history of the Chilean Air Force, surpassed by the 2019 C-130 crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Review of Low-Altitude Approach Procedures
Following the investigation's finding that the low trajectory (650 feet or less) left the crew with no margin for recovery, the Chilean Air Force reviewed and updated its approach procedures for Robinson Crusoe Airport to account for the unique aerodynamic hazards created by the terrain of Santa Clara Island.