Accident
The aircraft departed Caracas-Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar on a post-maintenance test flight. On board were eight engineers and technicians, and three crew members. Twenty-eight minutes into the flight, the crew initiated the test program. Nine minutes later, the pilot sent a brief mayday message, the content of which remains unclear. The aircraft then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea approximately 16 kilometers off Margarita Island. Upon impact, the aircraft disintegrated. Few debris were found floating on the water, while the majority of the aircraft sank to a significant depth and was not recovered.
Investigation
The official investigation was hindered by the lack of recoverable wreckage and incomplete data. The probable cause, as stated in the official findings, is that due to lack of evidence, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.