Santa Bárbara del Zulia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Anaco to Santa Bárbara del Zulia, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances by a wooded area located near Casigua El Cubo. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed. It is believed that the aircraft was engaged in an illegal contraband flight.

Crash of an Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette in Santa Bárbara de Zulia

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1991

Type of aircraft:

Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette

Operator:

Hydrowell

Registration:

YV-572CP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1975

Location:

Santa Bárbara del Zulia

Zulia

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Santa Bárbara de Zulia-Las Delicias Airport, the tyre on the left main gear burst. Control was lost and the aircraft veered off runway to the left. While contacting soft ground, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft came to rest few dozen meters further. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of control during takeoff after the tyre on the left main gear burst.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 on Mt La Aguada: 45 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1991 at 1617 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

YV-23C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Maracaibo – Santa Bárbara de Zulia

MSN:

47720

YOM:

1976

Flight number:

LV108

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

32452

Aircraft flight cycles:

50298

Circumstances:

After departure from Maracaibo-La Chinita Airport, the crew followed a wrong heading to Santa Bárbara de Zulia (153° instead of 193°), which caused the aircraft to fly to the southeast over the lake of Maracaibo. While cruising at an altitude of 16,500 feet, the crew was cleared by ATC to descend to 5,500 feet. The crew reported to ATC that the VOR seemed to be inoperative but this was denied by the air traffic controller. At an altitude of 9,900 feet, the captain realized something was wrong about the heading selection, stopped the descent and initiated a right turn to gain height when the GPWS alarm sounded. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Aguada (3,320 meters high) located about 27 km northeast of Valera, some 170 km northeast of Santa Bárbara de Zulia. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 45 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures and failed to follow various checklists,
- The crew failed to realize he was following a wrong heading after takeoff and failed to proceed to the en-route checks as required,
- The crew was distracted by conversations with a third person who was seating on the jumpseat all flight,
- The crew failed to supervise the flight according to standard operations,
- Poor crew coordination,
- Lack of discipline,
- At the time of impact, the aircraft was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions,
- Poor visibility due to low clouds surroundings the mountains struck by the airplane.