On July 10, 1948, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration CU-P198) operated by Expreso Aéreo Interamericano was involved in an aviation accident near Caracas-Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar, Venezuela during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Double engine flame out resulting from fuel starvation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A cargo plane from Havana suffered a double engine failure on final approach to Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport, crashing into the sea. All three crew members were rescued before the aircraft sank.
What happened
During a cargo operation arriving from Havana, the aircraft was on final approach to Maiquetía-Simón Bolívar Airport. Both engines experienced a simultaneous flame-out while the plane was positioned for landing. This loss of power caused the aircraft to stall, resulting in a crash into the sea just short of the runway threshold. The impact occurred only a few hundred yards from the start of the runway. All three crew members were successfully rescued from the water as the aircraft began to sink and was subsequently lost.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the incident was caused by a fuel starvation event, which led to the double engine flame-out.
Probable cause
Double engine flame out resulting from fuel starvation.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…