Mérida

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.

Following an uneventful flight from Kralendijk, Bonaire Island, the crew started a night approach to Santo Domingo-Mayor Buenaventura Vivas Airport, Venezuela. On final, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 9 km short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

A twin engine training plane operated by the Venezuelan Navy crashed few days ago. One pilot was killed while the second escaped with minor injuries. Funerals were organized by the Armada Venezolana and a Casa 212 was chartered to carry the coffin to Santa Barbara. On board were soldiers, officers, friends and family members of the deceased pilot. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was cleared by ATC to divert to Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport. Few minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 55 km from Mérida Airport. A passenger was injured while 22 other occupants were killed. The passenger who survived was the second pilot on the first accident few days ago. He survived two crashes in a week.

The twin engine airplane departed La Carlota-Francisco de Miranda AFB at 1430LT on a flight to Mérida, carrying two passengers and two crew (one civilian and three military personnel) on behalf of the Servicio de Transporte de la Guardia Nacional. While descending to Mérida, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Chiguará, about 40 km west of Mérida Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

Seven minutes after its takeoff from Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Paramo Los Conejos, about 17 km north of the airfield. 13 occupants were killed, among them a crew member, while 34 other occupants were injured.

The aircraft departed Mérida-Alberto Carnevalli Airport at 1505LT on a charter flight to Maracaibo with an intermediate stop at Lagunillas. After takeoff, while approaching El Callejon Pass at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew realized it would not be possible to clear the pass and decided to modify his route. Vertical to Ejido, the captain made a 180 turn, modified his heading to 030° and continued to the northeast. Few minutes later, while cruising in clouds at an altitude of 13,500 feet, the airplane struck the slope of La Culata Peak and was destroyed upon impact. The wreckage was found few hours later and all four occupants have been killed.

The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Mérida to Caracas, carrying 27 students from the San José College of Mérida and one teacher. The airplane took off at 1213LT and six minutes later, the captain informed ground he was flying in the Chama Valley. About half an hour later, while cruising at an altitude of 2,800 meters, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in Páramo Las Siete Lagunas, about 70 km northeast of the Mérida Airport. The wreckage was spotted at the end of the afternoon and all 31 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jesús Power Troconis, pilot,
Roberto Suprani Marotta, copilot,
Consuelo Flores, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Juan Ignacio Aranguren,
José Vicente Fernández,
Miguel Antonio Olivé,
Harald Beer,
Omar José Gonzalo,
Francisco de Sales Roche,
Alfredo Bello,
Eduardo Götz Römer,
Julio Seco,
Jon Berecibar,
Carlos Hernández,
Alexis Senior,
Jesús Alberto Calvo,
Gorka de Ibargüen,
Ronald Senior,
Jesús Guillermo Carvallo,
Francisco Javier López Pacheco,
Alfredo Suárez Cárdenas,
Fernando Correa,
José Ignacio López Pacheco,
Alfonso Suárez Mujica,
Alfredo Delfino,
Roberto Matute Burguera,
Arístides Suárez Mujica,
Giorgio De Zordo,
Freddy Morrison,
Hernado Sucre,
Luis Rafael Oramas.