Canaima | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

After touchdown on runway 18/36 at Canaima Airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in the bush, bursting into flames. All occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. It was reported that a tire burst upon landing.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP in La Paragua

Date & Time: Jan 6, 2018

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

YV1944

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

La Paragua - Canaima

MSN:

1G185-58

YOM:

1980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a prairie, bursting into flames. Both pilots were seriously injured and the aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Canaima: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 2016 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Operator:

Registration:

YV607T

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

La Paragua – Canaima

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from La Paragua to Canaima. While descending to Canaima in the early morning, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crashed some 34 km northeast of the intended destination, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Johnny Ramirez, pilot,
José Angel Soto Zapata, copilot.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Canaima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2009 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

YV1181

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar

MSN:

208B-0695

YOM:

1998

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3404

Captain / Total hours on type:

1021.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

269

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

15753

Circumstances:

After takeoff from runway 36 at Canaima Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines and crashed in bushes located 80 metres past the runway end. A young boy aged 6 was killed while all other occupants were injured, seven seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The accident occurred as a result of the inability of the aircraft to take off, affected by the tailwind and water puddles that covered part of the runway, which did not allow speed to build up, crashing into the ground. It is considered that the most likely cause of the accident was mismanagement by the crew, in the sense of failing to make adequate planning and analysis, coupled with overconfidence and lack of identification of hazardous conditions at that time of takeoff. Based on our [JIAAC] investigations, we can infer that there were several contributing causes for the occurrence of this accident. In this order, we can state the following:
- Adverse weather and tailwind conditions associated with the phenomenon.
- Incorrect management by the crew to use only the last third of the runway with the meteorological conditions prevailing at that time.
- Failure of the aerodrome administration to identify and correct poor drainage of the runway.
- Failure of the Autoridad Aeronáutica to monitor safety.
- Rejection by the crew of the concatenated form in which the factors involved in this event developed.
After all the analysis to different causes involved in this accident, we can point to as the main Causal Factor: Human Factor, due to the mismanagement by the flight crew upon takeoff in these conditions. Physical and Material factors included everything related to the prevailing weather conditions, road conditions and lack of services at the aerodrome by the authorities; all of them are considered Contributing Factors.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Arecuna

Date & Time: Mar 5, 2006 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

YV-1149C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Porlamar – Canaima

MSN:

208B-0669

YOM:

1998

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Porlamar on a charter flight to Canaima with two crew and 11 passengers on board, all from the Czech Republic. While in cruising altitude, the engine failed. The aircraft continued to fly for 12 minutes when the crew attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft struck the ground and came to rest upside down. Both pilots were slightly injured while all passengers escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2TP near La Paragua: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 2005 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Registration:

YV-280C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Canaima – La Paragua

MSN:

1G214-09

YOM:

1985

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching La Paragua on a positioning flight from Canaima, the single engine aircraft crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located 13 km from the destination. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Tocomita: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 2003 at 0932 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Operator:

Registration:

YV-1069C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Porlamar - Canaima

MSN:

208B-0713

YOM:

1998

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Porlamar to Canaima, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and was cleared to divert to Tocomita for an emergency landing. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed into trees 100 meters short of runway. A passenger was killed while 15 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Canaima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1998 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

YV-611C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Canaima - Canaima

MSN:

1977

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a charter flight over the Salto Angel falls east of the Mt Auyán-Tepui, in the Canaima National Park, carrying 22 tourists and a crew of three. On approach to Canaima Airport, at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the right engine lost power. The crew continued the approach when the left engine suffered a loss of power as well. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located 1,600 metres short of runway. The copilot was killed and three other occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a PZL-Mielec AN-2T near Canaima

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1993

Type of aircraft:

PZL-Mielec AN-2

Operator:

Aéreo Transporte La Montaña

Registration:

YV-511C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

La Paragua – Canaima

MSN:

1G231-21

YOM:

1988

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Eighteen minutes after takeoff from La Paragua, while on a cargo flight to Canaima, the engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed 23 km northwest of Canaima. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-22 Islander near Canaima: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1987

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

YV-230C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Canaima. All 10 occupants were killed, among them nine tourists.