Region
South America

Crash of a PZL-Mielec M28 Skytruck on Mt Izcaragua: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 2010 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
PZL-Mielec AN-28
Operator:
Registration:
ENBV-0063
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Valle de la Pascua – La Carlota
MSN:
AJE002-02
YOM:
2000
Location:
Mt Izcaragua
Miranda
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Valle de la Pascua Airport at 0646LT on a flight to La Carlota-General Francisco de Miranda Air Base. At 0722LT, the crew reported his position at 7,000 feet when contact was lost. The wreckage was found the following day at 1700LT in a wooded and hilly terrain located between Mt Izcaragua and Mt Meregoto, about 18 km northeast of La Carlota Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 340A near Quiripital: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 2009 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 340
Operator:
Registration:
YV1451
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Valle de la Pascua – Charallave
MSN:
340A-0641
YOM:
1978
Location:
Quiripital
Miranda
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Valle de la Pascua Airport on a private flight to Charallave. While approaching Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport, the crew encountered limited visibility due to low clouds when the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Quiripital, about 15 km southeast of Charallave Airport. The wreckage was found the following day. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred after the crew suffered a loss of situational awareness while descending into IMC conditions.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan off La Tortuga

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2009 at 0814 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
YV1183
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Roques - Porlamar
MSN:
208B-0690
YOM:
1998
Flight number:
TUY202
Location:
La Tortuga
Los Roques Federal Dependencies
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
21109
Captain / Total hours on type:
2216.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1986
Copilot / Total hours on type:
48
Aircraft flight hours:
8392
Aircraft flight cycles:
8897
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Los Roques Airport at 0734LT on a schedule service to Porlamar, carrying 11 passengers and two pilots. At 0804LT, while cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet, the engine exploded the vibrated. The crew shut down the engine, declared an emergency and reduced his altitude. Ten minutes later, in a 30° flaps down configuration, the crew ditched the aircraft at low speed about 7,4 km north of La Tortuga Island. All 13 occupants were quickly rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after the disintegration of several blades on the compressor disk. Technical analysis were unable to determine the exact cause of this disintegration.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Caracas

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2009 at 1806 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Islas Aviation Services
Registration:
YV212T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Roques – Caracas
MSN:
171
YOM:
1970
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
10187
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Los Roques on a charter flight to Caracas with nine passengers and one pilot on board. While approaching Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, at a distance of about 13 km, the pilot was cleared to descend to 1,500 feet where he completed two circuits. After being cleared to descend to 1,000 feet, he flew two other circuits as he was n°7 on approach. While descending at an altitude of 600 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot ditched the aircraft some 4 km off the airport. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on approach caused by a fuel exhaustion. Poor flight preparation and planning on part of the pilot who miscalculated the fuel consumption for the required trip.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Canaima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2009 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Operator:
Registration:
YV1181
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar
MSN:
208B-0695
YOM:
1998
Location:
Canaima
Bolívar
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3404
Captain / Total hours on type:
1021.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
269
Copilot / Total hours on type:
59
Aircraft flight hours:
15753
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 36 at Canaima Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines and crashed in bushes located 80 metres past the runway end. A young boy aged 6 was killed while all other occupants were injured, seven seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred as a result of the inability of the aircraft to take off, affected by the tailwind and water puddles that covered part of the runway, which did not allow speed to build up, crashing into the ground. It is considered that the most likely cause of the accident was mismanagement by the crew, in the sense of failing to make adequate planning and analysis, coupled with overconfidence and lack of identification of hazardous conditions at that time of takeoff. Based on our [JIAAC] investigations, we can infer that there were several contributing causes for the occurrence of this accident. In this order, we can state the following:
- Adverse weather and tailwind conditions associated with the phenomenon.
- Incorrect management by the crew to use only the last third of the runway with the meteorological conditions prevailing at that time.
- Failure of the aerodrome administration to identify and correct poor drainage of the runway.
- Failure of the Autoridad Aeronáutica to monitor safety.
- Rejection by the crew of the concatenated form in which the factors involved in this event developed.
After all the analysis to different causes involved in this accident, we can point to as the main Causal Factor: Human Factor, due to the mismanagement by the flight crew upon takeoff in these conditions. Physical and Material factors included everything related to the prevailing weather conditions, road conditions and lack of services at the aerodrome by the authorities; all of them are considered Contributing Factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air near Valera: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 2009 at 1153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 100 King Air
Operator:
Command Air - Venezuela
Registration:
YV2129
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Charallave – Valera
MSN:
B-83
YOM:
1971
Location:
Valera
Trujillo
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport on a charter flight to Valera, carrying four passengers and two pilots. While descending to Valera-Carvajal Airport in IMC conditions, at an altitude of 9,650 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Piedra Gorda located 35 km from the airport. The wreckage was found the following day at the end of the afternoon. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 6 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew started the descent prematurely. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2H4 in Caracas

Date & Time: Oct 16, 2008 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
YV162T
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Ordaz – Caracas
MSN:
23055/970
YOM:
1983
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 28R at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left. It eventually veered off runway to the left and went down a slope, coming to rest with its nose gear torn off. All 54 occupants evacuated safely and aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Charallave: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 2008 at 2321 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Dovler Mangelli Fonialli
Registration:
YV-1165
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Cristóbal – Charallave
MSN:
31-7820067
YOM:
1978
Location:
Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga
Miranda
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Cristóbal-Paramillo Airport on a private flight to Charallave with two passengers and one pilot on board. At 2319LT, he was cleared for a VOR-DME approach to runway 10. It was dark but the visibility was about 10 km. Shortly later, another aircraft on approach declared an emergency and became priority. The pilot was instructed to follow a holding pattern when two minutes later, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found the following morning 5,5 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Given the circumstances in which the accident occurred, it would be considered a CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) type accident, which occurs as a result of unintentional impact on the ground, when the aircraft is under the control of the pilot in command. It is considered that the most probable cause of the accident was the loss of situational awareness, caused mainly by the concern that he was becoming distracted by the emergency of the aircraft preceding him on the approach, because of his administrative relationship with this aircraft and its crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Caracas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2008 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Aircraft Guaranty Holdings & Trust
Registration:
N6463L
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Caracas – Willemstad
MSN:
31-421
YOM:
1969
Location:
Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar
Vargas
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport on a private flight to Willemstad-Hato Airport, Curaçao, with two passengers and one pilot on board. During initial climb, the pilot reported engine problems and was cleared for an immediate return when he lost control of the airplane that crashed onto several buildings located in the district of Catia La Mar, about 6 km short of runway 09 threshold. The aircraft burst into flames and was totally destroyed. All three occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. Five other people were injured.

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.
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