Caracas – Puerto Ordaz

On September 26, 2011 at 09:22 AM, Caracas – Puerto Ordaz experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV, with the event recorded near Puerto Ordaz Bolívar.

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.

130 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 130 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 125, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration YV136T, MSN 47738/830, year of manufacture 1976.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 8.2786°, -62.7419°.