Caracas - Lajes - Barcelone

On September 3, 1976 at 09:45 PM, Caracas - Lajes - Barcelone experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-130 Hercules, operated by Venezuelan Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Venezolana, with the event recorded near Lajes Azores Islands.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

68 people were known to be on board, 68 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 10, crew fatalities: 10, passengers on board: 58, passenger fatalities: 58, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While descending to Lajes Airport, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to the night, low clouds and heavy rain falls. On short final, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the top of a hill located 1,500 metres short of runway 16 threshold and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all 68 occupants were killed, among them members of the Venezuelan choir Orfeón Universitario who were flying to Barcelona, Spain, to take part to an international festival. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with heavy rain falls and winds gusting to 30 knots after the hurricane 'Emmy' passed over the Azores Islands that day.

Aircraft reference details include registration 7772, MSN 4408, year of manufacture 1971.