Zone
Mérida

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After departure from runway 25, the crew planned to use an unpublished procedure.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.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 near Mérida: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1991 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
ARV-0209
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Caracas - Santa Barbara
MSN:
264
YOM:
1982
Location:
Mérida
Mérida
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
A twin engine training plane operated by the Venezuelan Navy crashed few days ago. One pilot was killed while the second escaped with minor injuries. Funerals were organized by the Armada Venezolana and a Casa 212 was chartered to carry the coffin to Santa Barbara. On board were soldiers, officers, friends and family members of the deceased pilot. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was cleared by ATC to divert to Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport. Few minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 55 km from Mérida Airport. A passenger was injured while 22 other occupants were killed. The passenger who survived was the second pilot on the first accident few days ago. He survived two crashes in a week.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew got lost in poor weather conditions.

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

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Registration:
YV-251P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ciudad Bolívar – Mérida
Location:
Hato Viejo
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
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 a Beechcraft 90 King Air near Chiguará: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1983
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Servicio de Transporte de la Guardia Nacional
Registration:
YV-706P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Carlota - Mérida
Location:
Chiguará
Mérida
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed La Carlota-Francisco de Miranda AFB at 1430LT on a flight to Mérida, carrying two passengers and two crew (one civilian and three military personnel) on behalf of the Servicio de Transporte de la Guardia Nacional. While descending to Mérida, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Chiguará, about 40 km west of Mérida Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

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.
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