Country
Venezuela
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Crash of a Vickers 749 Viscount in Maracaibo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMZ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
96
YOM:
1956
Location:
Maracaibo-La Chinita
Zulia
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Maracaibo-La Chinita Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of control difficulties.

Crash of a Vickers 749 Viscount near Mérida: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1971 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viscount
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mérida – Caracas
MSN:
94
YOM:
1956
Flight number:
LV359
Location:
Mérida
Mérida
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Seven minutes after its takeoff from Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Paramo Los Conejos, about 17 km north of the airfield. 13 occupants were killed, among them a crew member, while 34 other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando off Puntarenas: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1970 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José - San José
MSN:
254
YOM:
1945
Location:
Puntarenas
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew (four technicians and three pilots) departed San José-Juan Santamaría Airport in the morning on a post maintenance test flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the gulf of Nicoya off Puntarenas. The wreckage was found 1,2 km east of San Lucas Island. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 748-2-215 in Maturín: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1968 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 748
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maturín – Tucupita
MSN:
1580
YOM:
1965
Location:
Maturín-José Tadeo Monagas (ex Quiriquire)
Monagas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Maturín-Quiriquire Airport, while climbing by night, one of the engine failed. The crew feathered the propeller and elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane struck an obstacle and crashed. Four occupants were killed while three others were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Páramo de Turmal: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AZQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Antonio del Tachira – Maiquetía
MSN:
19986
YOM:
1944
Location:
Páramo de Turmal
Trujillo
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
23352
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed San Antonio del Tachira Airport at 1230LT for a 2 hours and 45 minutes flight to Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Páramo de Turmal. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was not following the assigned route due to navigation error on part of the crew.
Probable cause:
A navigational error in course of an instrument flight at insufficient altitude caused the accident. Contributing factors were:
- Failure to follow the route San Antonio - Maiquetía as called for by the LAV Operations Manual,
- The flight took place outside of the route established by the National Airways Division,
- Overconfidence of the pilot in his knowledge of the route,
- Instrument flight which prevented visual checking of the position of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK near Calabozo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1960 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AFE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Caracas – Calabozo – San Fernando – Puerto Paez – Puerto Ayacucho
MSN:
15353/26798
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calabozo
Guárico
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While on approach to Calabozo Airport, a Russian citizen went into the cockpit and apparently tried to hijack the airplane. Shortly later, he threw a grenade on the floor. When the explosion occurred, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames about 15 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft had been properly maintained and there was no evidence of any breakage or structural failure or mechanical failure or defective performance of any component prior to the explosion. The accident was caused by an exploding device.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Maiquetía: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1959 at 1111 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AKU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Maiquetía
MSN:
4581
YOM:
1942
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was in charge to perform a local test flight out from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane crashed on Mt Playa Grande near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an overspeeding propeller followed by failure of the starboard engine.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G-82 Super Constellation on Mt Alto del Cedro: 23 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1958 at 0023 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-ANC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City – Maracaibo
MSN:
4575
YOM:
1955
Location:
Mt Alto del Cedro (Serranía de Perijá)
Zulia
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total hours on type:
2134.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1069
Copilot / Total hours on type:
469
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight between Panama City and Maracaibo, carrying a crew of 6 and 17 passengers. The crew reported over the Riohacha intersection at 2351LT at an altitude of 15,000 feet and estimated his arrival at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport at 0030LT. At 0015LT the crew reported he was 35 miles out at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The last contact with the aircraft was at 0022LT. It crashed on Alto del Cedro Mountain in the Serranía de Perijá, killing all 23 persons aboard.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred owing to premature descent caused by the pilot's failure to allow himself a suitable margin for:
- altered flight course and
- shortage of navigational facilities in the area.
It was also reported that the pilot turned northwest on reaching position Tango/2, instead of turning at Barranquilla, and flew towards a wrong position 45 miles from the Riohacha intersection, having failed to take this discrepancy into account in calculating his distance from Maracaibo. It is very likely that the pilot, when reporting 35 miles from Maracaibo, had seen the Carrasquero lights and the surrounding gas flares, through a thin layer of cloud below and believed they were the lights of Maracaibo. The pilot had no way of definitely determining his position in the area, and, therefore, ought to have taken greater precaution against descent at a mistaken location. His best alternative should have been to remain at a safer altitude until (1) he sighted the Maracaibo lights (not the glare), or (2) obtained oscillation of the radio compass needle over Maracaibo.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Calabozo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1957 at 0935 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AFA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Calabozo – Bruzual
MSN:
4525
YOM:
1942
Location:
Calabozo
Guárico
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Five minutes after takeoff from Calabozo Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. It was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed. They were conducting a positioning flight to Bruzual.

Crash of a Lockheed L-749-79-34 Constellation on Mt Naiguatá: 25 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1956 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York – Caracas
MSN:
2560
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
LV253
Location:
Mt Naiguatá
Miranda
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
YV-C-AMA, on scheduled flight 253, took off from Idlewild Airport, NY, for Maiquetía, Venezuela, on 26 November with 7 crew and 18 passengers aboard. The flight plan gave an altitude of 17 000 ft, and the duration of the flight was estimated at 9 hours 48 minutes, with Barcelona and Curaçao as alternate airports. The pilot transmitted two position reports, the first, 75 miles northwest of Maiquetía, at 17 500 ft at 0751 hours, and the second, 14 minutes later, 35 miles northwest of Maiquetía at 7 000 ft. No further communication was received from YV-C-AMA after it had been cleared to change to tower frequency. Following the failure to report to the control tower, the aircraft was repeatedly called on all Maiquetía Control Centre frequencies at 0815 hours, with negative results. A state of emergency was declared at 0835 hours, and it was later established that the aircraft struck the western slope of peak El Avila located in the El Avila National Park at an altitude of 6 702 ft, killing all 25 occupants.
Probable cause:
The instrument flight training manuals show that the Linea Aeropostal Venezolana has approved a procedure for entering Maiquetía in semi-IFR conditions. This procedure consists in maintaining a minimum flight level of 10 000 ft as far as the station (Miq 292.5), then turning north over this point and continuing on a 360° heading for 4 minutes followed by a standard let-down to 1 200 ft above sea level until contact is established, and a return to the aerodrome under VFR. It is obvious that the pilot -in-command did not fully comply with this procedure, and, after accumulating errors in estimating his speed, endeavored to make a direct approach which proved fatal because his altitude at the time of his last report was insufficient to cross the Avila mountain range against which the impact occurred.
Final Report:
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