Region
South America

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Salto Angel

Date & Time: May 19, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-LBO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9061
YOM:
1943
Location:
Canaima
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing near Salto Angel. The aircraft came to rest in a prairie and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F Commando in Carora

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-LBH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami – Carora
MSN:
441
YOM:
1945
Location:
Carora
Lara
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Miami, carrying twelve pedigree bulls. Upon landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both pilots were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire and all 12 animals were killed.

Crash of a Canadair C-4-1 Argonaut off Caracas

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Canadair C-4 North Star
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-LBV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Maiquetía - Maiquetía
MSN:
147
YOM:
1949
Location:
Caracas
Caracas Federal District
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport for a local training flight. En route, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot-in-command attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea few km off shore. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of all four engines due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild F27A in Porlamar: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild F27
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-EVH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Porlamar – Cumaná
MSN:
12
YOM:
1958
Location:
Porlamar
Nueva Esparta
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Porlamar Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of Mt San Juan located few km from the airfield. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 23 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, the crew did not follow the published procedures for Porlamar Airport departure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL in Páramo de Turmal: 12 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AZQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Antonio del Tachira – Maiquetía
MSN:
19986
YOM:
1944
Location:
Páramo de Turmal
Trujillo
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Aircraft flight hours:
23352
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed San Antonio del Tachira Airport at 1230LT for a 2 hours and 45 minutes flight to Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Páramo de Turmal. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was not following the assigned route due to navigation error on part of the crew.
Probable cause:
A navigational error in course of an instrument flight at insufficient altitude caused the accident. Contributing factors were:
- Failure to follow the route San Antonio - Maiquetía as called for by the LAV Operations Manual,
- The flight took place outside of the route established by the National Airways Division,
- Overconfidence of the pilot in his knowledge of the route,
- Instrument flight which prevented visual checking of the position of the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell off Venezuela: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1960
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Venezuela
All Venezuela
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off the Venezuelan coast. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK near Calabozo: 13 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1960 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AFE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Caracas – Calabozo – San Fernando – Puerto Paez – Puerto Ayacucho
MSN:
15353/26798
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calabozo
Guárico
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
While on approach to Calabozo Airport, a Russian citizen went into the cockpit and apparently tried to hijack the airplane. Shortly later, he threw a grenade on the floor. When the explosion occurred, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames about 15 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft had been properly maintained and there was no evidence of any breakage or structural failure or mechanical failure or defective performance of any component prior to the explosion. The accident was caused by an exploding device.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Maiquetía: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1959 at 1111 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AKU
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Maiquetía
MSN:
4581
YOM:
1942
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was in charge to perform a local test flight out from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane crashed on Mt Playa Grande near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an overspeeding propeller followed by failure of the starboard engine.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near Mérida: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1959 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-LBI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mérida – Lagunillas – Maracaibo
MSN:
33411
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mérida
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 aircraft departed Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport at 1505LT on a charter flight to Maracaibo with an intermediate stop at Lagunillas. After takeoff, while approaching El Callejon Pass at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew realized it would not be possible to clear the pass and decided to modify his route. Vertical to Ejido, the captain made a 180 turn, modified his heading to 030° and continued to the northeast. Few minutes later, while cruising in clouds at an altitude of 13,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of La Culata Peak and was destroyed upon impact. The wreckage was found few hours later and all four occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to flying the aircraft at insufficient altitude over an area apparently unfamiliar to the pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049G-82 Super Constellation on Mt Alto del Cedro: 23 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1958 at 0023 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-ANC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Panama City – Maracaibo
MSN:
4575
YOM:
1955
Location:
Mt Alto del Cedro (Serranía de Perijá)
Zulia
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total hours on type:
2134.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1069
Copilot / Total hours on type:
469
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight between Panama City and Maracaibo, carrying a crew of 6 and 17 passengers. The crew reported over the Riohacha intersection at 2351LT at an altitude of 15,000 feet and estimated his arrival at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport at 0030LT. At 0015LT the crew reported he was 35 miles out at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The last contact with the aircraft was at 0022LT. It crashed on Alto del Cedro Mountain in the Serranía de Perijá, killing all 23 persons aboard.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred owing to premature descent caused by the pilot's failure to allow himself a suitable margin for:
- altered flight course and
- shortage of navigational facilities in the area.
It was also reported that the pilot turned northwest on reaching position Tango/2, instead of turning at Barranquilla, and flew towards a wrong position 45 miles from the Riohacha intersection, having failed to take this discrepancy into account in calculating his distance from Maracaibo. It is very likely that the pilot, when reporting 35 miles from Maracaibo, had seen the Carrasquero lights and the surrounding gas flares, through a thin layer of cloud below and believed they were the lights of Maracaibo. The pilot had no way of definitely determining his position in the area, and, therefore, ought to have taken greater precaution against descent at a mistaken location. His best alternative should have been to remain at a safer altitude until (1) he sighted the Maracaibo lights (not the glare), or (2) obtained oscillation of the radio compass needle over Maracaibo.
Final Report:
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