South America | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft took off in the day from an airfield located in Venezuela with two passengers, two pilots and a load of 1,3 ton of narcotics, en route to Central America. While cruising over the Caribbean Sea off the Colombian coast, the aircraft was intercepted by a Colombian Air Force fighter. In unclear situation, the right engine of the Hawker caught fire (shot down ?). The crew descended in a low nose down attitude until the aircraft impacted the sea and disintegrated. All four occupants were killed and the load of narcotics was found floating on water. Three dead bodies and some debris of the aircraft were found few days later on a beach located northeast of Puerto Colombia. The aircraft was identified as N917TF which departed Fort Lauderdale-Executive Airport, Florida for Toluca, Mexico on May 1, 2015. It was formally cancelled from the U.S. register on June 2, 2015 as exported to Mexico.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Colombian Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Beechcraft 200 Super King Air in Maracaibo

Date & Time: Apr 25, 2015 at 1710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air

Operator:

Servicio Autónomo de Transporte Aéreo - SATA

Registration:

YV2803

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Caracas – Maracaibo

MSN:

BB-506

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft landed hard. Impact caused the tail to separate. The aircraft lost its undercarriage then slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed. It seems the aircraft suffered an engine failure shortly before landing.

Crash of a Cessna 441 Conquest II near Cañaote: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 2015

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 441 Conquest

Operator:

Registration:

XB-KGS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

441-0232

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Cañaote, State of Cojedes. The wreckage was found the following morning. The aircraft was destroyed, all three occupants were killed and a load of 999 kilos of cocaine was found among the debris.

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air in Laguna del Sauce: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 2015 at 2038 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Registration:

LV-CEO

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Laguna del Sauce – San Fernando

MSN:

LJ-454

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9348

Copilot / Total flying hours:

5095

Aircraft flight hours:

10319

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Laguna del Sauce Airport on a charter flight to San Fernando Airport near Buenos Aires, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. Shortly after a night takeoff from Laguna del Sauce Airport runway 01, the aircraft entered a controlled descent and crashed in shallow water some 2 km northwest of the airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident resulted from impact with the ground without loss of control due to the combination of the following factors:
- The aircraft's climb profile did not meet the manufacturer's recommendations for speed and rate of climb,
- The center of gravity was outside the flight envelope,
- The total weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident was 124 kilos above the MTOW,
- Both pilots were tired due to a lack of rest time and a shift of more than 18 hours,
- The captain did not fly this type of aircraft since 1997 and was used to flying jets,
- The copilot had no experience on this type of aircraft despite being in possession of a valid license,
- The pilots' knowledge and understanding of the aircraft's systems and operation was inadequate,
- The operational checklists found on board the aircraft were not up to date,
- The pilots flew for the first time at night on this aircraft and for the second time together,
- The aircraft was operated under commercial rules on behalf of a travel agency while it could only fly privately,
- The instructor in charge of the training of both pilots and the person in charge of scheduling the flight refused to be questioned by the board of inquiry,
- An excessive workload for the crew and a lack of rest contributed to the pilots' loss of situational awareness,
- Both engines' compressors were running at low speed on impact,
- Both engines' propellers were turning at a speed close to low pitch,
- No mechanical anomalies were found on the engines and their components,
- Insufficient qualifications of the crew to fly on this type of aircraft,
- Pressure from the aircraft's owner to complete the flight,
- Crew fatigue and stress,
- Inadequate maintenance of the aircraft.

Final Report:

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2A-8 Islander in Los Roques

Date & Time: Jan 16, 2015

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

YV2238

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Higuerote - Los Roques

MSN:

296

YOM:

1971

Location:

Los Roques

Los Roques Federal Dependencies

Country:

Venezuela

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the aircraft landed hard on runway 07 at Los Roques Airport. Upon impact, the right main gear collapsed and punctured the right wing. Out of control, the twin engine aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest near the runway shoulder. All 10 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2A-6 Islander near Mahdia: 2

Date & Time: Dec 28, 2014 at 1145 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

8R-GHE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Mahdia – Karisparu

MSN:

269

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Aircraft flight hours:

25818

Circumstances:

The crew (a pilot and a load master) was performing a regular cargo service to Karisparu and departed Mahdia Airport at 1142LT. The duration of the flight should be less than 20 minutes as the aircraft was scheduled to arrive at Karisparu Airfield at 1200LT. Less than three minutes after departure, the radio contact was lost with the pilot. SAR operations were initiated but after four days, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Zulfikar Mohamed, said that the crucial 72-hour window period since the aircraft vanished in the thick jungle in Region Eight expired on Tuesday December 30. On January 4, 2015, all SAR operations were suspended as no trace of the aircraft was found.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna T207A Turbo Stationair 8 in Piedecuesta: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 2014 at 1527 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4892

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bucaramanga – Málaga

MSN:

207-0646

YOM:

1981

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

370.00

Aircraft flight hours:

13055

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Bucaramanga-Palonegro Airport on a charter flight to Málaga-Jerónimo de Aguayo Airport, carrying six passengers and one pilot. En route, the aircraft started a descent then a turn to the left when it impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Piedecuesta. The wreckage was found the following day and all seven occupants were killed. There was no fire.

Probable cause:

The investigation determined that the accident was caused by a combination of the following factors:
- A probable partial loss of engine power during flight,
- A probable loss of aerodynamic performance of the aircraft.
The following factors that could affect the performance of the aircraft are added to the two hypotheses:
1. Lack of knowledge by the dispatcher and the pilot of the exact weight of the aircraft, as well as the location of its center of gravity.
2. Decision by the pilot to fly at an altitude lower than the one stipulated in the Flight Plan submitted to the Aeronautical Authority, as well as in the SOP's.

Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68C-TC in La Bonanza: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 2014

Type of aircraft:

Partenavia P.68

Operator:

Registration:

YV1706

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Valencia – Charallave

MSN:

242-07-TC

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot Amílcar Suárez, sole on board, was killed when the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near La Bonanza. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. It was en route from Valencia to Charallave.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain in Mariquita: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 2014 at 0931 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain

Operator:

Registration:

HK-4464

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bogotá-Guaymaral – Bahía Solano

MSN:

31-7952229

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2190

Captain / Total hours on type:

392.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

302

Copilot / Total hours on type:

302

Aircraft flight hours:

10091

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Bogotá-Guaymaral Airport on a charter flight to Bahía Solano, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. En route, while in cruising altitude, the crew contacted ATC and reported engine trouble. He was then cleared to divert to Mariquita-José Celestino Mutis Airport for an emergency landing. On final approach to runway 19, the aircraft stalled and crashed on hilly and wooded terrain, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the malfunction of the right engine in flight, causing a loss of speed and a subsequent stall.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Limited operation of the aircraft due to an inoperative engine,
- Low speed,
- When the aircraft stalled, the distance with the ground was insufficient to expect recovery,
- The maintenance services were not performed according to the manufacturer when the aircraft was parked for almost six months.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 207 Stationair near La Molina: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 2014 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

Operator:

Registration:

PNP-248

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Government

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Lima – Pisco

MSN:

207-0379

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft departed Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez Airport bound for Pisco. While cruising in foggy conditions east of Lima, the airplane collided with a mountain located between La Molina and Villa Maria del Triunfo. The wreckage was found in the evening, around 1840LT, and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

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