Country
Venezuela
code

Táchira

Crash of a Cessna 340A near Lobatera: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 2011 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 340
Operator:
Maparca Compañía Aérea
Registration:
YV2402
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Valera – El Vigía – San Antonio del Táchira
MSN:
340A-1502
YOM:
1982
Location:
Lobatera
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Valera Airport on a charter flight to San Antonio del Táchira with an intermediate stop in El Vigía, carrying five passengers and one pilot. All flight was completed under VFR mode but while descending to San Antonio del Táchira, weather conditions worsened and the pilot switched to IFR mode. Shortly later, control was lost and the aircraft crashed on the slope of Mt Laja, near Lobatera. The wreckage was found about 25 km northeast of San Antonio del Táchira Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The most probable cause for the occurrence of this accident was the loss of situational awareness, caused mainly by the change of flight conditions under visual rules to flight under instrumental flight rules, due to the adverse weather conditions in which the descent phase began, so it is possible to establish the Human Factor as the cause of the accident and the Physical Factor as a contributor.

Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in San Cristóbal: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 2003 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Ruiban & Duran Compania Aérea
Registration:
YV-1060CP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
La Carlota - San Cristóbal
MSN:
90 25 05
YOM:
1990
Location:
San Cristóbal-Paramillo
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to San Cristóbal Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions and limited visibility due to low clouds. On approach, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Gama located in the Chorro del Indio National Park. Six people were seriously injured while four passengers were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew initiated the descent prematurely in poor visibility.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter near Potosí: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1989 at 1134 LT
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
FAC-1110
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Arauca
MSN:
818
YOM:
1983
Location:
Potosí
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft departed Cúcuta-Camilo Daza Airport at 1106LT and proceeded to the east. While cruising at an insufficient altitude, it struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Potosí, Venezuela. The wreckage was found six days later, on April 25. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot was inexperienced and failed to follow the minimum prescribed altitude for the area.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-Dl near Rubio: 28 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1393
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta - Arauca
MSN:
19053
YOM:
1943
Location:
Rubio
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 11,200 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located about 30 km south of Rubio, in the Judio Mountain Range. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 28 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the airplane was not following the correct route as mentioned on the flight plan and its altitude was insufficient. Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Convair CV-580 in San Antonio del Táchira

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Convair CV-580
Operator:
Registration:
YV-59C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
445
YOM:
1958
Location:
San Antonio del Táchira
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for unknown reasons. All 34 occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland U-1A Otter in San Antonio del Táchira: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1969
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
59-2221
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Antonio del Táchira – Maracaibo
MSN:
364
YOM:
1960
Location:
San Antonio del Táchira
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from San Antonio del Táchira Airport, the crew encountered technical difficulties and elected to return when control was lost. The airplane crashed few km from the airfield and was destroyed. A passenger and the copilot survived while three other occupants were killed.
Those killed were:
Maj Larry Frank, pilot,
Lt Miles W. Bowen,
Harold D. Moir Jr.
Probable cause:
Unknown mechanical failure.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near Santo Domingo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1958 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas del Caribe - LIDCA
Registration:
HK-930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Arauca – Cúcuta
Location:
Santo Domingo
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane left Arauca at 0930LT on a cargo flight to Cúcuta. About thirty minutes later, while overflying the region of Santo Domingo, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46-CU Commando near Capacho: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Lineas Interamericana Aérea
Registration:
HK-607
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cúcuta – Cravo Norte
Location:
Capacho
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Capacho while performing a cargo flight from Cúcuta to Cravo Norte. The passenger was seriously injured while all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in La Grita

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YV-AGU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Caracas – Maracaibo – Cúcuta – Bogota
MSN:
4205
YOM:
1941
Location:
La Grita
Táchira
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Maracaibo to Cúcuta, while starting the descent, the crew encountered technical problems with the engines and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was written off. All 17 occupants were injured, nine of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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