Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar – Porlamar

On January 25, 2001 at 06:15 PM, Canaima – Ciudad Bolívar – Porlamar experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by Rutaca - Rutas Aéreas, with the event recorded near Ciudad Bolívar Bolívar.

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

24 people were known to be on board, 24 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 20, passenger fatalities: 20, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff from Ciudad Bolívar Airport, while climbing, the crew declared an emergency following an engine failure and was cleared for an immediate return. The crew made a turn and while approaching runway 07, the aircraft stalled and crashed near the district of El Perú, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found about 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed, among them 6 US citizens, five Dutch, four Italians, two Hungarian, one Austrian and six Venezuelan. Also, a young woman and her both children who were standing at the crash site were seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration YV-224C, MSN 19055, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 8.1435°, -63.5516°.