Venezuela | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Puerto Cabello to Caracas on behalf of the Venezuelan Government. While approaching the Francisco de Miranda AFB, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing on a highway located in La Araña, about nine km west of the airport. Upon landing, the airplane struck few cars and came to rest. Four occupants were injured while four others were unhurt. No one was hurt on the ground.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on approach caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Venezuela

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

YV-808P

Flight Type:

Private

MSN:

A-509

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances, probably somewhere in Venezuela. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-14 near Maturín: 75 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1974 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AVM

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ciudad Bolivar – Maturín – Caracas

MSN:

47056

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

VE358

Location:

Maturín-José Tadeo Monagas (ex Quiriquire)

Monagas

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Four minutes after takeoff from runway 05 at Maturín-Quiriquire Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,500 meters, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a field located about 20 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 75 occupants have been killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of an elevator failure was not ruled out.

Crash of a Vickers 749 Viscount in Porlamar: 48 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1974 at 0920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AMX

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Caracas - Porlamar

MSN:

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Porlamar-Del Caribe-General en Jefe Santiago Mariño Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility and heavy rain falls. In accordance with ATC, the crew decided to divert to Cumaná Airport and while completing a turn to change heading, the four engine airplane struck the peak La Gloria located about 10 km northeast of Porlamar Airport. The wreckage was found eight meters below the summit and the copilot, seriously injured, was evacuated to an hospital in Caracas while 47 other occupants were killed. 17 days later, the copilot Ivan Rodolfo Magallanes died from his injuries.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew may have lost his orientation during the few seconds preceding impact with the ground, maybe following a malfunction of several instruments whose parameters were probably badly influenced by static electricity accumulated in the stormy weather. At the time of the accident, hurricane 'Alma' was approximately 100 km east of Margarita Island.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Venezuela

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AFO

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

13699

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft registered YV-C-AFO (c/n 13699) crashed in unknown circumstances (maybe a mislanding) somewhere in Venezuela ? The exact date remains unknown but the aircraft was cancelled from the register in 1973.

Crash of a Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle I in Barquisimeto

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1973

Type of aircraft:

Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AVI

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing, the right main gear partially collapsed and punctured the right wing. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Canaima: 34 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AKE

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Canaima - Caracas

MSN:

4705

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Canaima Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency when on final, the airplane stalled and crashed few km from the airfield. None of the 34 occupants survived the crash.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff for undetermined reason.

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

Date & Time: May 8, 1972

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-GAI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ciudad Bolívar - Cuchivero

MSN:

15168/26613

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.