Zone

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-8-202 in Bogotá

Date & Time: Jan 28, 2008 at 2302 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HK-3997
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Maracaibo – Bogotá
MSN:
391
YOM:
1994
Flight number:
ARE053
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14992
Captain / Total hours on type:
5552.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
555
Copilot / Total hours on type:
6
Aircraft flight hours:
19565
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Maracaibo, the crew completed a night approach and landing on runway 13L at Bogotá-El Dorado Airport. After touchdown, the crew initiated the braking procedure but due to a technical issue on the left engine, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, went through a perimeter fence and came to rest in a grassy area with its left main gear folded. All 41 occupants were evacuated, among them two passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Carrying out a landing with an unresolved issue on the left engine, causing the aircraft to be unable to stop within the remaining distance available. The failure to correct the maintenance reports in a satisfactory manner and the failure to properly follow-up on repetitive entries were considered as contributing factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B80 Queen Air near Maracaibo

Date & Time: Mar 29, 2004 at 0805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-952
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Maracaibo – Boa Vista
MSN:
LD-348
YOM:
1967
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Maracaibo while completing a flight from Maracaibo to Boa Vista. No trace of the crew was found and it is believed that the flight was illegal.

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

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
59-2221
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Antonio del Táchira – Maracaibo
MSN:
364
YOM:
1960
Country:
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 Curtiss C-46F Commando off Maracaibo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-EVL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Guatemala City
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising off Maracaibo, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Maracaibo

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-ARF
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12957
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with the landing gears that could not be lowered. The aircraft then belly landed and slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All 20 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Landing gear failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-178 near Fonseca: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1950 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N16030
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Miami – Kingston – Maracaibo
MSN:
1546
YOM:
1936
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
400.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3576
Copilot / Total hours on type:
500
Aircraft flight hours:
36534
Circumstances:
The aircraft had departed Miami, Florida, at 1045 on June 9, 1950, for Kingston, Jamaica. It arrived at Kingston at 1512 and departed at 1545 on an instrument flight plan of four hours to cruise at 9,500 feet direct to .Maracaibo, Venezuela, with Barranquilla, Colombia, as an alternate. The flight plan was filed with Kingston ARTC personally by the copilot. There was sufficient fuel on board at departure from Kingston for a flight of approximately five hours and thirty minutes duration. Radio contacts were made with Kingston at 1558, 1658, and 1752. The 1752 message indicated the flight's position at 1745 as 14 degrees north latitude, altitude 9,500 feet, and the ETA at Maracaibo at 1915. No longitude was given. This position report to Kingston was intercepted by Balboa, Canal Zone, and relayed to Maracaibo. At 1802 Balboa sent a message to the flight advising it that the Maracaibo radio was already closed on FA (air to ground) and closing soon on FX (point to point). It was therefore suggested that Balboa be contacted to close the flight plan when the aircraft landed at Maracaibo. At 1852 the flight advised Balboa that it was "over the coast line at 5,000 feet and descending VFR." This was the last message received from the aircraft which never arrived at Maracaibo.
Probable cause:
The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence upon which to make a determination of probable cause.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Maracaibo

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
NC57667
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6030
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Maracaibo

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1948
Registration:
YV-C-AQC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19126
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing in Maracaibo Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Venezuela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1948 at 1000 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-40
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Maracaibo – Cartagena
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
About half an hour after its departure from Maracaibo Airport, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous region located in the east part of Venezuela. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Cartagena, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace was found. The wreckage was located in June 1959 in an isolated area. All four occupants were killed, among them Hernando Navarro Botero, Director of the company. The registration remains unconfirmed.

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

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
YV-AGU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Maracaibo – Cúcuta – Bogota
MSN:
4205
YOM:
1941
Country:
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.