Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Canaima: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 2009 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV1181
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar
MSN:
208B-0695
YOM:
1998
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3404
Captain / Total hours on type:
1021.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
269
Copilot / Total hours on type:
59
Aircraft flight hours:
15753
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 36 at Canaima Airport, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It collided with power lines and crashed in bushes located 80 metres past the runway end. A young boy aged 6 was killed while all other occupants were injured, seven seriously. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred as a result of the inability of the aircraft to take off, affected by the tailwind and water puddles that covered part of the runway, which did not allow speed to build up, crashing into the ground. It is considered that the most likely cause of the accident was mismanagement by the crew, in the sense of failing to make adequate planning and analysis, coupled with overconfidence and lack of identification of hazardous conditions at that time of takeoff. Based on our [JIAAC] investigations, we can infer that there were several contributing causes for the occurrence of this accident. In this order, we can state the following:
- Adverse weather and tailwind conditions associated with the phenomenon.
- Incorrect management by the crew to use only the last third of the runway with the meteorological conditions prevailing at that time.
- Failure of the aerodrome administration to identify and correct poor drainage of the runway.
- Failure of the Autoridad Aeronáutica to monitor safety.
- Rejection by the crew of the concatenated form in which the factors involved in this event developed.
After all the analysis to different causes involved in this accident, we can point to as the main Causal Factor: Human Factor, due to the mismanagement by the flight crew upon takeoff in these conditions. Physical and Material factors included everything related to the prevailing weather conditions, road conditions and lack of services at the aerodrome by the authorities; all of them are considered Contributing Factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 100 King Air near Valera: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 2009 at 1153 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV2129
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Charallave – Valera
MSN:
B-83
YOM:
1971
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga Airport on a charter flight to Valera, carrying four passengers and two pilots. While descending to Valera-Carvajal Airport in IMC conditions, at an altitude of 9,650 feet, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Piedra Gorda located 35 km from the airport. The wreckage was found the following day at the end of the afternoon. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 6 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew started the descent prematurely. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

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 Piper PA-31T Cheyenne II in Charallave: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 2008 at 2321 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV-1165
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Cristóbal – Charallave
MSN:
31-7820067
YOM:
1978
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Cristóbal-Paramillo Airport on a private flight to Charallave with two passengers and one pilot on board. At 2319LT, he was cleared for a VOR-DME approach to runway 10. It was dark but the visibility was about 10 km. Shortly later, another aircraft on approach declared an emergency and became priority. The pilot was instructed to follow a holding pattern when two minutes later, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found the following morning 5,5 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Given the circumstances in which the accident occurred, it would be considered a CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) type accident, which occurs as a result of unintentional impact on the ground, when the aircraft is under the control of the pilot in command. It is considered that the most probable cause of the accident was the loss of situational awareness, caused mainly by the concern that he was becoming distracted by the emergency of the aircraft preceding him on the approach, because of his administrative relationship with this aircraft and its crew.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Caracas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 2008 at 0955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N6463L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Caracas – Willemstad
MSN:
31-421
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport on a private flight to Willemstad-Hato Airport, Curaçao, with two passengers and one pilot on board. During initial climb, the pilot reported engine problems and was cleared for an immediate return when he lost control of the airplane that crashed onto several buildings located in the district of Catia La Mar, about 6 km short of runway 09 threshold. The aircraft burst into flames and was totally destroyed. All three occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. Five other people were injured.

Crash of an ATR42-300 in Mérida: 46 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 2008 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV1449
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Mérida – Caracas
MSN:
28
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
BBR518
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
43
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport runway 25, the aircraft climbed in clouds when it collided with a mountain located 10 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 46 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 4,100 metres.
Probable cause:
After departure from runway 25, the crew planned to use an unpublished procedure. Climbing through clouds a 180-degree turn was initiated. Using the unreliable magnetic compass, the flight made a 270 degree turn, heading towards rising terrain. The captain took over control from the copilot. When visual contact with terrain was regained, the crew noted they were heading for mountains. The captain tried to avoid rising terrain but the aircraft impacted the side of a mountain at 4,100 metres.

Crash of a Cessna 650 Citation III in Caico Seco: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 2008 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N385EM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Valencia – Puerto Ordaz
MSN:
650-0145
YOM:
1987
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Valencia-Arturo Michelana Airport on a private flight to Puerto Ordaz, carrying one passenger and two pilots. While cruising at an altitude of 30,000 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a near vertical attitude. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The copilot probably gave his place on board to a passenger without any qualification to operate the aircraft, moments after takeoff. During the en-route flight phase, a failure of the primary pitch trim system was simulated by the activation of the secondary system, which would have resulted in an abnormal operation of the system, followed by violent loss of altitude and over speed condition.

Crash of a BAe 3103 Jetstream 31 in Los Roques

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2008 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV186T
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porlamar - Los Roques
MSN:
616
YOM:
1983
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Los Roques Airport, the left main gear collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway to the left and came to rest on the edge of a lagoon. All 16 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing for unknown reasons.

Ground accident of a DC-9-31 in Caracas

Date & Time: Feb 12, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YV298T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
48147/1048
YOM:
1981
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a post maintenance delivery mission. A crew of two engineers was positioning the aircraft from a technical hangar at Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport to the main terminal. While taxiing on the ramp, the crew lost control of the aircraft that rolled to a grassy area and eventually collided with a drainage ditch. The left main gear collapse and the left wing was severely damaged. Both crew were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control for undetermined reasons.