What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from runway 04L at Maracaibo-Grano de Oro Airport, the aircraft struck overhead power lines at an altitude of approximately 150 feet. The impact caused a rapid loss of airspeed and altitude, leading to a crash in the La Trinidad district near the airfield. The subsequent impact and intense post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
The accident caused a massive loss of life, with 84 fatalities among the occupants of the plane and 71 deaths reported on the ground. The wreckage and fire also impacted the local infrastructure, destroying over 20 buildings. In addition to the fatalities, more than 100 individuals sustained injuries, several of which were classified as serious.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the flight was intended for Miami but was attempted under marginal weather conditions. A critical factor in the accident was that temperature sensors positioned along the runway provided inaccurate data to the crew prior to departure.
Because the crew relied on these incorrect temperature readings to perform their takeoff performance calculations, the resulting configuration was erroneous. This led to an extended takeoff roll and a delayed rotation. Consequently, the aircraft reached a minimum altitude that was insufficient to safely clear obstacles situated beyond the end of the runway.