What happened
A scheduled flight departed from San Antonio del Tachira Airport at 12:30 local time, destined for Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport with an expected flight duration of approximately two hours and 45 minutes. During the cruise phase of the flight, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions. While navigating through this area, the plane impacted a mountain slope situated in the vicinity of Páramo de Turmal.
Search efforts located the wreckage several hours after the impact. The accident resulted in 12 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants. Investigation into the flight path revealed that the aircraft was not adhering to its designated route at the time of the collision.
Findings
The investigation identified several contributing elements to the crash. The primary factor was a navigational error during an instrument flight, which led to the aircraft flying at an inadequate altitude. Additional findings included:
- The crew failed to adhere to the specific route between San Antonio and Maiquetía as mandated by the LAV Operations Manual.
- The flight path deviated from the official routes established by the National Airways Division.
- The pilot exhibited overconfidence regarding their familiarity with the flight path.
- The reliance on instrument flight prevented the crew from visually verifying the aircraft's exact position relative to the terrain.