Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén
Flight / Schedule
Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén
Aircraft
IAI Arava 201Registration
GN-7953
MSN
51
Year of Manufacture
1979
Date
July 23, 1979 at 05:57 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Matthew's Ridge Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Region
South America • Guyana
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
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.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
0
Passengers
3
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
7
Estimated Survivors
6
Fatality Rate
33.3%
Known people on board: 9
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Ciudad Bolívar – Santa Elena de Uairén
Flight Type
Military
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
South America • Guyana
Aircraft Details
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