Lake Maracaibo | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Solo Energy Drink

Registration:

N17JE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Puerto Plata – Santa Cruz de Barahona

MSN:

401A-0082

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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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.