Zone

Crash of a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air into Lake Maracaibo: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 2024 at 1548 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YV3296
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maracaibo - Porlamar
MSN:
BB-885
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
About 12 minutes after takeoff from Maracaibo-La Chinita Airport, while flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the twin engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into Lake Maracaibo. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 8 occupants were killed. The flight was en route to Porlamar-Del Caribe-General en Jefe Santiago Mariño Airport when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Cessna 401A in the Lake Maracaibo

Date & Time: Aug 1, 2020
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N17JE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Plata – Santa Cruz de Barahona
MSN:
401A-0082
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Puerto Plata-Gregorio Luperón Airport at 1718LT on a flight to Santa Cruz de Barahona. En route, the pilot was informed that this airport is closed to all traffic after 1700LT and decided to return to Puerto Plata. A last radio communication was recorded with ATC when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens eight minutes later. Dominican authorities thought the aircraft may have crashed in the septentrional mountain range and SAR operations were initiated. Few hours later, the wreckage was found in a marshy area of the Lake Maracaibo, more than 1,000 km south of Puerto Plata. All three occupants were found alive and arrested while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Venezuelan authorities reported the aircraft and its occupants were engaged in an illegal narcotic flight.