Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV

Douglas DC-9

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.

Douglas DC-9

The aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar on a post maintenance test flight, carrying eight engineers and technicians and three crew members. Twenty-eight minutes into the flight, the crew started the test program when nine minutes later, the pilot was able to send a brief mayday message but its content remains unclear. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea 16 km off Margarita Island. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and few debris were found floating on water while the majority of the aircraft sank to a significant depth and was not recovered.

Douglas DC-9

After departure from Maracaibo-La Chinita Airport, the crew followed a wrong heading to Santa Bárbara de Zulia (153° instead of 193°), which caused the aircraft to fly to the southeast over the lake of Maracaibo. While cruising at an altitude of 16,500 feet, the crew was cleared by ATC to descend to 5,500 feet. The crew reported to ATC that the VOR seemed to be inoperative but this was denied by the air traffic controller. At an altitude of 9,900 feet, the captain realized something was wrong about the heading selection, stopped the descent and initiated a right turn to gain height when the GPWS alarm sounded. Shortly later, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt La Aguada (3,320 meters high) located about 27 km northeast of Valera, some 170 km northeast of Santa Bárbara de Zulia. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 45 occupants were killed.

De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter

Crashed after takeoff from Urimán Airport for unknown reasons. Both pilots were killed.

Avro 748

Shortly after takeoff from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed into the sea few km off Macuto. All 47 occupants were killed.

Vickers Viscount

While descending to Porlamar-Del Caribe-General en Jefe Santiago Mariño Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility and heavy rain falls. In accordance with ATC, the crew decided to divert to Cumaná Airport and while completing a turn to change heading, the four engine airplane struck the peak La Gloria located about 10 km northeast of Porlamar Airport. The wreckage was found eight meters below the summit and the copilot, seriously injured, was evacuated to an hospital in Caracas while 47 other occupants were killed. 17 days later, the copilot Ivan Rodolfo Magallanes died from his injuries.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft registered YV-C-AFO (c/n 13699) crashed in unknown circumstances (maybe a mislanding) somewhere in Venezuela ? The exact date remains unknown but the aircraft was cancelled from the register in 1973.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Canaima Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The crew decided to return for an emergency when on final, the airplane stalled and crashed few km from the airfield. None of the 34 occupants survived the crash.

Vickers Viscount

Shortly after takeoff from Maracaibo-La Chinita Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Vickers Viscount

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.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The crew (four technicians and three pilots) departed San José-Juan Santamaría Airport in the morning on a post maintenance test flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the gulf of Nicoya off Puntarenas. The wreckage was found 1,2 km east of San Lucas Island. All seven occupants were killed.

Avro 748

Shortly after takeoff from Maturín-Quiriquire Airport, while climbing by night, one of the engine failed. The crew feathered the propeller and elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane struck an obstacle and crashed. Four occupants were killed while three others were injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The aircraft departed San Antonio del Tachira Airport at 1230LT for a 2 hours and 45 minutes flight to Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Páramo de Turmal. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 12 occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was not following the assigned route due to navigation error on part of the crew.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While on approach to Calabozo Airport, a Russian citizen went into the cockpit and apparently tried to hijack the airplane. Shortly later, he threw a grenade on the floor. When the explosion occurred, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames about 15 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was in charge to perform a local test flight out from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the airplane crashed on Mt Playa Grande near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

The aircraft was on a flight between Panama City and Maracaibo, carrying a crew of 6 and 17 passengers. The crew reported over the Riohacha intersection at 2351LT at an altitude of 15,000 feet and estimated his arrival at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport at 0030LT. At 0015LT the crew reported he was 35 miles out at an altitude of 10,000 feet. The last contact with the aircraft was at 0022LT. It crashed on Alto del Cedro Mountain in the Serranía de Perijá, killing all 23 persons aboard.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Five minutes after takeoff from Calabozo Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames. It was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed. They were conducting a positioning flight to Bruzual.

Lockheed L-749 Constellation

YV-C-AMA, on scheduled flight 253, took off from Idlewild Airport, NY, for Maiquetía, Venezuela, on 26 November with 7 crew and 18 passengers aboard. The flight plan gave an altitude of 17 000 ft, and the duration of the flight was estimated at 9 hours 48 minutes, with Barcelona and Curaçao as alternate airports. The pilot transmitted two position reports, the first, 75 miles northwest of Maiquetía, at 17 500 ft at 0751 hours, and the second, 14 minutes later, 35 miles northwest of Maiquetía at 7 000 ft. No further communication was received from YV-C-AMA after it had been cleared to change to tower frequency. Following the failure to report to the control tower, the aircraft was repeatedly called on all Maiquetía Control Centre frequencies at 0815 hours, with negative results. A state of emergency was declared at 0835 hours, and it was later established that the aircraft struck the western slope of peak El Avila located in the El Avila National Park at an altitude of 6 702 ft, killing all 25 occupants.

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

The four engine christened 'Rafael Urdaneta' departed New York-Idlewild Airport at 2306LT and proceeded to the south. One hour and twenty minutes later, while flying along the US coast, the crew contacted ground and received the permission to return to New York following the failure of the number two engine. The crew was unable to feather the propeller and the aircraft suffered severe vibrations. Ten minutes later, while the crew was trying to dump the fuel, a fire erupted. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the sea and crashed about 40 miles southeast of New York. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 74 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While descending to Barcelona along the coast, the crew encountered technical issues and decided to ditch the aircraft few km off shore. Four passengers were killed while nine other occupants were rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed in hilly terrain located near Ciudad Piar. The wreckage was found few days later. Both pilots were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crash landed at Guasdualito Airport. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

On landing, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. A crew member was killed while 16 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was written off.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Shortly after takeoff from Ciudad Bolivar Airport, while on a test flight, the aircraft stalled and crashed 150 meters past the runway end. The aircraft was written off while all three crew members were uninjured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While descending to La Carlota Airport in Caracas, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 40 km east of Caracas. All 27 occupants were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

While descending to Barquisimeto Airfield, an engine caught fire. As the crew was unable to extinguish the fire, he decided to make an emergency landing on a road leading to the airport. After touchdown, the airplane rolled for few yards before coming to rest in flames. All occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and were unhurt while the twin engine aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Lockheed 10 Electra

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Valle de la Pascua, killing all 10 occupants.

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

On final approach to Barcelona Airport, the twin engine aircraft for unknown reason. All 14 occupants were killed.

Lockheed 10 Electra

En route from Ciudad Guayana to Maracay, an engine fired. The crew decided to divert to Higuerote Airport. The aircraft failed to arrive and crashed in flames, killing all four occupants.

Fairchild 82

En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing near the Cuyuni River. All occupants escaped unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.