47 fatalities

1978-03-03: Avro 748 (YV-45C) — Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV — Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar, Venezuela

Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar, VenezuelaTakeoff (climb)

On March 3, 1978, an Avro 748 (registration YV-45C) operated by Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV was involved in an aviation accident near Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar, Venezuela during takeoff. 47 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the aircraft's artificial horizon during the climb led to a loss of control and subsequent dive. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781226953Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the sea shortly after departing Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a departure from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport, an aircraft entered an uncontrollable descent while performing its initial climb. The flight path deviated significantly as the plane transitioned into a steep dive. The impact occurred in the ocean at a distance of several kilometers from Macuto.

There were 47 fatalities recorded following the crash, with no survivors reported among the occupants. The incident took place during the climb phase of the flight.

Findings

Investigations into the accident suggest that the primary reason for the loss of control was a failure of the artificial horizon instrument while the plane was ascending.

Probable cause

The failure of the aircraft's artificial horizon during the climb led to a loss of control and subsequent dive.