Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén

On July 23, 1979 at 05:57 PM, Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén experienced a crash involving IAI Arava 201, operated by Venezuelan National Guard - Guardia Nacional Bolivariana de Venezuela, with the event recorded near Matthew's Ridge Cuyuni-Mazaruni.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

9 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine airplane was completing a flight from Ciudad Bolívar to Santa Elena de Uairén. En route, the crew became lost after weather conditions deteriorated. Finally, he decided to attempt at emergency landing when the airplane hit obstacles and crashed near Matthew's Ridge, Guyana. Three occupants were killed while six others were injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration GN-7953, MSN 51, year of manufacture 1979.