Zone
Vargas

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Caracas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2008 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Aircraft Guaranty Holdings & Trust
Registration:
N6463L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Caracas – Willemstad
MSN:
31-421
YOM:
1969
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport on a private flight to Willemstad-Hato Airport, Curaçao, with two passengers and one pilot on board. During initial climb, the pilot reported engine problems and was cleared for an immediate return when he lost control of the airplane that crashed onto several buildings located in the district of Catia La Mar, about 6 km short of runway 09 threshold. The aircraft burst into flames and was totally destroyed. All three occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. Five other people were injured.

Crash of an ATR42-300 in Mérida: 46 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 2008 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
ATR42-300
Operator:
Registration:
YV1449
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mérida – Caracas
MSN:
28
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
BBR518
Location:
Mérida
Mérida
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport runway 25, the aircraft climbed in clouds when it collided with a mountain located 10 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 46 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 4,100 metres.
Probable cause:
After departure from runway 25, the crew planned to use an unpublished procedure. Climbing through clouds a 180-degree turn was initiated. Using the unreliable magnetic compass, the flight made a 270 degree turn, heading towards rising terrain. The captain took over control from the copilot. When visual contact with terrain was regained, the crew noted they were heading for mountains. The captain tried to avoid rising terrain but the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain at 4,100 metres.

Ground accident of a DC-9-31 in Caracas

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
YV298T
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
48147/1048
YOM:
1981
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a post maintenance delivery mission. A crew of two engineers was positioning the aircraft from a technical hangar at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport to the main terminal. While taxiing on the ramp, the crew lost control of the aircraft that rolled to a grassy area and eventually collided with a drainage ditch. The left main gear collapse and the left wing was severely damaged. Both crew were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E3 off Los Roques: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 2008 at 0910 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Registration:
YV2081
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Caracas – Los Roques
MSN:
87 20 15
YOM:
1987
Location:
Los Roques
Los Roques Federal Dependencies
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
At 0858LT, while cruising at an altitude of 7,500 feet some 83 km from the destination, the crew reported his position to ATC. About 10 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the captain declared an emergency following a double engine failure. The aircraft lost height and crashed in the sea some 29 km off Los Roques Airport. Few debris were found floating on water and all 14 occupants were killed, among them 8 Italians, one Swiss and five Venezuelans. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor. On 19 June 2013, an Italian-Venezuelan search team found the wreckage at a depth of 974 metres.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a BAe 125-3A in Barcelona

Date & Time: Jun 26, 2006 at 0958 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAe 125
Operator:
Great Idea Corporation
Registration:
N125GK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Caracas - Barcelona
MSN:
25127
YOM:
1967
Location:
Barcelona
Anzoátegui
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Caracas-Maíquetia-Simón Bolívar Airport, the crew complete the approach to Barcelona-General José Antonio Anzoátegui Airport. The airplane landed normally and after a course of about 100 metres, both main gears collapsed. The aircraft skidded on runway and eventually came to rest, bursting into flames. All 8 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in El Cedrito: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2006 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
GN-8168
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Puerto Ayacucho – Caracas
MSN:
071
YOM:
1981
Location:
El Cedrito
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 6,700 feet in marginal weather conditions, the crew started the descent to Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar and descended to 5,000 feet when the aircraft struck trees and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near the village of El Cedrito, about 29 km southwest of the airport. The wreckage was found two day later, in the morning of May 7. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew started the descent prematurely.

Crash of a Beechcraft 350 Super King Air in El Junquito: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 2005 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 350 Super King Air
Operator:
Empresa Agroservicios Polar
Registration:
YV-783CP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Caracas – Charallave
MSN:
FL-313
YOM:
2001
Location:
El Junquito
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a ferry flight from Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport to Charallave. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near El Junquito, about 35 km northwest of Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-18D-40 in Caracas

Date & Time: Mar 28, 2005 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-18
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1539
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Caracas – Havana
MSN:
296 4017 102
YOM:
1983
Flight number:
CRN4311
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
87
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 09, the captain decided to reject takeoff for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest on the top of a hill with the n°1 engine torn off. All 97 occupants were rescued, among them 16 were injured, some seriously.

Crash of a BAe 3101 Jetstream 31 in Caracas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 2004 at 1302 LT
Type of aircraft:
BAe Jetstream 31
Operator:
Registration:
YV-1083C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
El Vigía – Caracas
MSN:
762
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
VNE213
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 09, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the right and eventually collided with the fire station located between both runways 08 and 09 at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport. Two female passengers were killed while 19 other occupants suffered injuries of various degrees. Few hours later, a third passenger died from his injuries. Weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident with heavy rain falls, and the runway surface was wet.

Crash of a Boeing 737-200 in Lima

Date & Time: Dec 13, 2003 at 2248 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
OB-1544-P
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Caracas - Lima
MSN:
20956
YOM:
1974
Flight number:
ACQ341
Location:
Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez
Lima
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
94
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
25502
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2229
Aircraft flight hours:
62716
Aircraft flight cycles:
62162
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Caracas, the crew started the approach to Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez Airport when the crew noted an asymmetric warning with the flaps. The crew decided to continue the approach but failed to lower the undercarriage. The aircraft belly landed at a speed of 190 knots and slid on runway 15 for 2,347 metres before coming to rest. All 100 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to verify and check the Non Normal Checklist of the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) due to technical problems at the time of approach and landing, causing the omission of the extension of the gear and subsequent contact of the aircraft with the runway with landing gear retracted. The following findings were identified:
- During the approach, an indication of flap asymmetry presented.
- Due to the tightness of the itinerary programmed by the company, the total flight hours and the flight's working day were within the limits of the maximum allowed by the RAP, which could have influenced (due to fatigue) the poor performance by the crew.
- The lack of recording of some parameters of the flight recorders (FDR and CVR) prevented the resolution of some important and useful details for the investigation.
- The flap asymmetry indication, due to an indication fault in the Flap Position Indicator caused by high electrical resistance originating from the winding inside the synchro transmitter of the right side Flap Position Transmitter.
- The omission of the use in the approach phase of the procedures described in the QRH for this type of abnormal situations.
- The lack of decision to carry out a Go Around, taking into account that the period of time to carry out the QRH procedures for this abnormal situation was not going to be enough.
- Overconfidence (complacency) during the approach phase under abnormal conditions (indication of flap asymmetry).
- Lack of Crew Resource Management during the approach and landing phases, especially under abnormal conditions.
- Lack of leadership during the abnormal situation presented.
- Lack of communication with the Control Tower about the abnormal conditions in which the approach and landing were to be carried out.
- Itinerary very adjusted to the limits of flight hours and working hours, established by the RAP.
Final Report:
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