Zone

Crash of a Rockwell Gulfstream 690C Jetprop 840 in Las Velas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2023 at 1530 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YV2915
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Caracas – Medellín
MSN:
690-11663
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was en route from Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport to Medellín-José María Córdova Airport (Rionegro) with two people on board. In unknown circumstances, it went out of control and crashed in a pasture located near the village of Las Velas, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in Adicora

Date & Time: Feb 17, 2023 at 1130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YV1473
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Adicora
MSN:
690-11510
YOM:
1979
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach and landing at Adicora Airport were completed in relative strong winds. Upon touchdown on runway 08, the twin engine airplane landed hard, bounced and went out of control. It veered off runway to the right, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All four occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Learjet 25D off Naiguatá: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 2017 at 0016 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV3191
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Barcelona
MSN:
25-368
YOM:
1984
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Maiquetía-Símon Bolívar Airport at 0011LT for a 35 minutes flight to Barcelona. About five minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 23,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and plunged into the sea few km off Naiguatá, State of Vargas. It appeared the aircraft disintegrated on impact and few debris were found the following morning floating on water. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Gulfstream GIII off Punta Arenas: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 2017 at 1343 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV2896
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Maiquetía – Porlamar
MSN:
469
YOM:
1986
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While approaching the Island of Margarita, en route from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport to Porlamar, the crew encountered control difficulties and informed ATC about hydraulic problems. The crew initiated a rapid descent to 3,000 feet apparently to ditch the aircraft when it went out of control and crashed in the sea about 16 km west off Punta Arenas. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and only few debris were found floating on water. All nine occupants were killed, among them officers flying on behalf of the Vice-Presidency of the Venezuelan Government.

Ground fire of a Boeing 767-269ER in Fort Lauderdale

Date & Time: Oct 29, 2015 at 1233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N251MY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Caracas
MSN:
23280/131
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
DYA405
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
90
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
15700
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4140
Aircraft flight hours:
30108
Aircraft flight cycles:
9986
Circumstances:
On October 29, 2015, about 12:33 pm eastern daylight time (EDT), Dynamic International Airways flight 405, a Boeing 767-200ER, N251MY, experienced a fuel leak and subsequent fire while taxiing for departure at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Florida (FLL). Of the 101 passengers and crew onboard, one passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage from the fire. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 supplemental as a scheduled charter from FLL to Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS), Caracas, Venezuela. A significant fuel leak and subsequent fire occurred in the left engine strut and nacelle during taxi, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The fuel leak was the result of a fuel line flexible coupling (Wiggins fitting) loosening and becoming disengaged due to the lack of a safety lockwire on the coupling as required by the maintenance manual. The leaking fuel contacted hot engine case surfaces which ignited the fire. Records indicate that maintenance was conducted on this fitting in October of 2012 at the 4C check prior to the airplane being prepared for storage. The area would also have been subject to a visual inspection when the airplane was brought out of storage in 2015. The same maintenance facility conducted both of these activities. About 240 flight hours were logged between the aircraft returning to service and the accident. The leak occurred after the coupling loosened due to the missing safety wire which was the result of an error by the third-party maintenance provider. The flight crew promptly shut down the left engine using the fire handle, and requested fire equipment. As the airplane stopped on the taxiway, passengers saw the fire and insisted that the cabin crew initiate an evacuation. One passenger opened an overwing exit on his own, and the slide did not deploy. The cabin crew initiated the evacuation without coordination with the flight crew. After the evacuation had already begun, the flight crew advised over the PA to evacuate out the right side of the airplane. The flight crew did not immediately shut down the right engine and an evacuating passenger ran behind the engine and was blown to the pavement resulting in serious injuries. The lack of coordination between the flight crew and cabin crew resulted in the evacuation initiating while the right engine was still running.
Probable cause:
The separation of the flexible fuel line coupling and subsequent fuel leak due to the failure of maintenance personnel to install the required safety lockwire. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the initiation of the evacuation before the right engine was shut down which led to the passenger's injury.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 off Los Roques: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 2013 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV2615
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Los Roques - Caracas
MSN:
20
YOM:
1968
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Los Roques Island Airport Runway 07 at 1132LT on a charter flight to Caracas, carrying four passengers and two pilots. During initial climb, the crew was cleared to climb to 6,500 feet. Seven minutes later, the crew informed ATC he was climbing to 5,000 feet and reported his position some 10 NM from Gran Roque VOR. While cruising at 5,400 feet at a speed of 120 knots, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants and all operations were abandoned after one week. The Italian couturier Vittorio Missoni was among the passenger. In June 2013, some debris were localized at a depth of 75 meters and five bodies were found on 17OCT2013. Eventually, the wreckage was recovered on 25NOV2013.

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-51 in Puerto Ordaz

Date & Time: Sep 26, 2011 at 0922 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV136T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Puerto Ordaz
MSN:
47738/830
YOM:
1976
Flight number:
VH342
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
125
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Copilot / Total flying hours:
275
Aircraft flight hours:
71817
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport on a schedule service to Puerto Ordaz, carrying 125 passengers and a crew of 5. On this flight, the copilot was the PIC with the captain acting as instructor and a second copilot who was seating in the jump seat and acting as an observer. During the takeoff roll from Caracas Airport, the liftoff was completed quickly, causing the base of the empennage to struck the runway surface (tail strike). Nevertheless, the captain decided to proceed to Puerto Ordaz. On final to Puerto Ordaz, the approach speed was too low (123,8 knots). The aircraft sank and landed hard, causing the fuselage to be bent at the aft cabin, just prior to the tail, and both engine pylons to fail and to break from the fuselage. The aircraft was brought to a stop on the main runway and all 130 occupants evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
The accident investigators, taking into account the characteristics of the accident and the evidence collected in the course of the investigation, considered the Human Factor as the reason for this accident, being able to demonstrate convincingly the following causes:
- There was a breach of the provisions in Chapter 4 (flight operations policies), paragraph 6 (sterile cabin) of the Operations Manual of the airline due to carrying out activities that were not related to the conduct of the flight.
- Lack of situational awareness of the Flight Instructor, the observer pilot and the first officer.
- The captain performed other duties, adding to the duties already being accomplished in his role as a flight instructor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Caracas

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2009 at 1806 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV212T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Los Roques – Caracas
MSN:
171
YOM:
1970
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
10187
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Los Roques on a charter flight to Caracas with nine passengers and one pilot on board. While approaching Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, at a distance of about 13 km, the pilot was cleared to descend to 1,500 feet where he completed two circuits. After being cleared to descend to 1,000 feet, he flew two other circuits as he was n°7 on approach. While descending at an altitude of 600 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot ditched the aircraft some 4 km off the airport. All 10 occupants were rescued, among them three were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on approach caused by a fuel exhaustion. Poor flight preparation and planning on part of the pilot who miscalculated the fuel consumption for the required trip.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 737-2H4 in Caracas

Date & Time: Oct 16, 2008 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV162T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Puerto Ordaz – Caracas
MSN:
23055/970
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
47
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing on runway 28R at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, the aircraft deviated to the left. It eventually veered off runway to the left and went down a slope, coming to rest with its nose gear torn off. All 54 occupants evacuated safely and aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing 737-291 near Toacaso: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 2008 at 2103 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV102T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Caracas – Latacunga
MSN:
21545/525
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
9018
Captain / Total hours on type:
5915.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
989
Aircraft flight hours:
60117
Aircraft flight cycles:
52091
Circumstances:
The aircraft was parked at Caracas Airport for a while and had just been sold to an Ecuadorian operator. A crew of three departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport in the evening on a delivery flight to Latacunga, Ecuador. After being cleared to descend to FL180, FL150 then FL130, the crew was flying over a mountainous area when the GPWS alarm sounded. The crew apparently elected to gain height but the alarm sounded for 22 seconds when the aircraft collided with the Iliniza Volcano. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed. The wreckage was found the following day at an altitude of 3,992 metres.
Probable cause:
Non-compliance by the crew of the technical procedures, configuration, speed and bank angle of the aircraft required for the completion of the initial turn of the Instrument Approach Procedure n°4 published in the AIP Ecuador, to Latacunga Airport, a failure that placed the aircraft outside of the protected area (published pattern), leading to high elevation mountainous terrain.
Contributing factors:
- Ignorance of the crew of the area which was under the approach path.
- Lack of documentation and procedures of the airline that govern the conduct of flights to non-scheduled and special airports.