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Twin-Engine Charter Aircraft Crashes Into Sea Near Punto Fijo (P4-AVB)

Punto Fijo, VenezuelaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 13, 1996, a Cessna 402 (registration P4-AVB) operated by Avia Air was involved in an aviation accident near Punto Fijo, Venezuela during landing or approach. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the left engine as a result of a cracked exhaust manifold. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine charter aircraft crashed into the sea about 29.5 km north of Punto Fijo Airport after the left engine failed, caught fire, and detached during descent. All eight occupants were killed.

Incident Overview A twin-engine aircraft was operating a charter flight from Oranjestad to Punto Fijo when it crashed into the sea. The aircraft carried seven passengers and one pilot, for a total of eight occupants. All eight people on board were killed in the accident. ## Sequence of Events While descending to Punto Fijo-Josefa Camejo Airport, the pilot notified air traffic control of a failure of the left engine. Shortly afterward, the left engine caught fire and detached from the aircraft. The detachment caused part of the left wing to be torn off. The aircraft then became out of control and crashed into the sea approximately 29.5 km north of Punto Fijo Airport. ## Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the probable cause was the failure of the left engine as a result of a cracked exhaust manifold.

Engine failure

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