Vargas

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Caracas - Caracas

MSN:

22-00-64

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport. After liftoff, during initial climb, the airplane lost height and crashed, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a loss of power on one or more engine.

Crash of an Avro 748-2A+-283 off Macuto: 47 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1978

Type of aircraft:

Avro 748

Operator:

Registration:

YV-45C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Caracas – Cumaná

MSN:

1744

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed into the sea few km off Macuto. All 47 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an artificial horizon failure during climb out.

Crash of a Boeing 707-328B off Maiquetía: 62 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1969 at 1805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

F-BHSZ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santiago de Chile – Caracas – Pointe-à-Pitre – Lisbon – Paris

MSN:

18459/335

YOM:

1963

Flight number:

AF212

Location:

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Three minutes after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, while climbing to a height of 3,000 feet at night, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and plunged into the sea about 5 km offshore. The wreckage sank by a depth of 50 metres and all 62 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. It was suspected that the loss of control was the consequence of a spatial disorientation on part of the pilot-in-command. No official investigation report was published either by the Venezuelan Authorities or by the French Government. All official documents referring to this tragedy are classified 'secret-defense' by the French Authorities until 2029. Nevertheless, in a classified document dated August 7, 1970, the French Bureau of Investigations (BEA-Bureau Enquêtes-Accidents) asked the French government to make a contact through the diplomatic way with the Venezuelan Authorities, to establish any evidence relating to suspicious traces found on clothes and some debris, some of them coming from the left main gear. On 17 November 1970, the Central Armament Laboratory of Paris confirmed that acetone washes were carried out on certain parts such as the fuselage, the bottom floor of the landing hatch and the landing gear. On the neighboring parts of the left main gear, it has been possible to demonstrate the presence of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine and a nitro derivative in the form of traces that could come from the decomposition of dinitrotoluene or possibly trinitrotoluene. Consequently, in a letter dated November 27, 1970, the Chief of the General Inspectorate of the French Civil Aviation confirms in an official letter that the technical analysis carried out by the various laboratories highlighted a high probability that the destruction in flight of the aircraft should be attributable to an act of malicious intent. Indeed, the chemical and metallurgical analysis showed that a powerful explosive device may have been placed in the well zone of the left main gear.

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

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1959 at 1111 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AKU

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Maiquetía – Maiquetía

MSN:

4581

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

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-10-CU Commando off Tanaguarena: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-ARD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

MSN:

33005

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed into the sea off Tanaguarena, killing all three crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO off Guaira: 24 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-AVX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Maiquetía – Porlamar

MSN:

7391

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Guaira harbor. All 24 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU off Maiquetía

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

CU-P198

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Havana - Maiquetía

MSN:

33534

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region: