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

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2009 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV1181
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar
MSN:
208B-0695
YOM:
1998
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3404
Captain / Total hours on type:
1021.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
269
Copilot / Total hours on type:
59
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 on Mt Awakapa Tepuy: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 2004 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-O-CBL-7
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Uonquén
MSN:
208B-0926
YOM:
2001
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Ciudad Bolívar at 1016LT on a flight to Uonquén, State of Bolívar. En route, around 1100LT, the pilot reported flying at 11,500 feet in poor weather conditions. About 45 minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Awakapa Tepuy located in the Chimanta Mountain Range. All seven occupants were killed, among them two church women.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Ciudad Bolívar: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 2001 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-224C
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar – Porlamar
MSN:
19055
YOM:
1943
Flight number:
RM225
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ciudad Bolívar Airport, while climbing, the crew declared an emergency following an engine failure and was cleared for an immediate return. The crew made a turn and while approaching runway 07, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the district of El Perú, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found about 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed, among them 6 US citizens, five Dutch, four Italians, two Hungarian, one Austrian and six Venezuelan. Also, a young woman and her both children who were standing at the crash site were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Ciudad Bolívar

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-613C
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
47104
YOM:
1967
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Ciudad Bolívar Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. On short final, about 4,800 metres short of runway 06 threshold, the aircraft was too high on the glide and the captain decided to make a correction. After touchdown, the crew initiated the braking procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran the wet runway (1,737 metres long) and came to rest 150 metres further. All 65 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who continued the descent too high on the glide. It was reported that the landing speed was slightly above Vref at 123 knots and the aircraft suffered aquaplaning as the runway surface was wet.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne in Hato Viejo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-251P
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Mérida
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Ciudad Bolívar to Mérida, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain and crashed near Hato Viejo. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in Matthew's Ridge: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1979 at 1757 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
GN-7953
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén
MSN:
51
YOM:
1979
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Ciudad Bolívar to Santa Elena de Uairén. En route, the crew became lost after weather conditions deteriorated. Finally, he decided to attempt at emergency landing when the airplane hit obstacles and crashed near Matthew's Ridge, Guyana. Three occupants were killed while six others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas VC-47J near Cuchivero: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1972
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-GAI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar - Cuchivero
MSN:
15168/26613
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a charter flight from Ciudad Bolívar to the Cuchivero mines. While approaching its destination, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near the Rio Orinoco. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Ciudad Piar: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Tumeremo
MSN:
19292
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in hilly terrain located near Ciudad Piar. The wreckage was found few days later. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Ciudad Bolivar

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AHO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolivar - Ciudad Bolivar
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Ciudad Bolivar Airport, while on a test flight, the aircraft stalled and crashed 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was written off while all three crew members were uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Villa de la Pascua: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-ADA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolivar – Maiquetía
MSN:
1126
YOM:
1937
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Valle de la Pascua, killing all 10 occupants.