Country
Venezuela
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Crash of a Douglas DC-10-30 in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1993 at 0622 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-10
Operator:
Registration:
YV-135C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Caracas - Buenos Aires
MSN:
46971/258
YOM:
1978
Flight number:
VA940
Location:
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
17
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
106
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Caracas, the crew started the descent to Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport but encountered poor weather conditions with ceiling down to 800 feet, heavy rain falls and windshear. The aircraft landed 750-800 metres past the runway threshold and was unable to stop within the remaining distance (runway 35 is 2,800 metres long). It overran and while contacting soft ground, the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest 180 metres further. All 123 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the runway surface was wet and the braking action was reduced.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-32 in Maracaibo: 155 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1969 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-9
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AVD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Caracas – Maracaibo – Miami
MSN:
47243/448
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
VA742
Location:
Maracaibo-La Chinita
Zulia
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
74
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
155
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 04L at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport, while in initial climb at an altitude of 150 feet, the airplane struck power cables. It lost speed and height then crashed in a huge explosion into the district of La Trinidad located near the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 84 occupants were killed as well as 71 people on the ground. More than 20 buildings were destroyed and more than 100 people were injured, some of them seriously.
Probable cause:
Takeoff to Miami was attempted in marginal weather conditions from runway 04L (6,792 feet long). For undetermined reason, the temperature sensors located along the runway transmitted wrong values. Prior to departure, the crew performed the calculations necessary for the takeoff configuration and referred to these wrong values, causing erroneous takeoff performances. Thus, the takeoff roll was longer than expected and the rotation was completed later than normal. After liftoff, the minimum altitude was insufficient to clear the obstacles located past the runway end.

Crash of a Douglas DC-8-53 off Lisbon: 61 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1961 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-8
Operator:
Registration:
PH-DCL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rome – Madrid – Lisbon – Santa Maria – Caracas
MSN:
45615
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
VA897
Location:
Lisbon-Portela de Sacavém
Estremadura - Lisbon District
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
61
Captain / Total flying hours:
12886
Captain / Total hours on type:
189.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
12913
Copilot / Total hours on type:
78
Aircraft flight hours:
209
Circumstances:
VIASA Flight 897 operated on the route Rome - Madrid (MAD) - Lisbon (LIS) - Santa Maria (SMA) - Caracas (CCS) when it landed at Lisbon at 00:06 UTC. Following a crew change and inspection by KLM maintenance personnel the flight was cleared for a runway 23 departure. The DC-8 took off at 01:15, heading the Capiraca (LS) NDB. At 01:18:37 the aircraft advised that the cloud base was at 3700 ft and changed to the Lisbon area control frequency. It reported again at 01:19 :25 to Lisbon Control that it was "over LS at 19 climbing through FL 60". This message ended with two quickly spoken sentences. This was the last radio contact with the flight. The DC-8 entered a spiral dive to the left during the last message, banking to the left to 90° within about 20 seconds and striking the water after another 15 seconds . During the last 15 seconds, the bank was over-corrected to the right. It struck the sea with a pitch angle of approximately 25° nose down, while it was probably banking 30° to the right.
Probable cause:
Notwithstanding a very thorough, time-consuming investigation, in which many authorities and experts co-operated, it was not possible to establish a probable cause of the accident. The Netherlands, as state of registry commented: Though there are no direct indications in this respect, the Board regards it as possible that the accident was due to the pilot or pilots being misled by instrument failure, in particular of the artificial horizon, or to the pilot having been distracted, so that a serious deviation from the normal flight path was not discovered in time.
Final Report:
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