What happened
On 3 September, a special charter flight operated by the Socony Mobil Oil Company of Venezuela departed from Maiquetía International Airport at 09:03 local time. The flight was scheduled to travel to Barinas. Onboard the aircraft, there were 3 crew members and 5 passengers.
After failing to arrive at its intended destination or any nearby alternative airports, an emergency declaration was issued. Following a search period, the wreckage was located on 12 September in the Penas Blancas Hills. The accident resulted in 8 fatalities and 0 survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing factors related to environmental conditions and navigation. Severe weather played a significant role, as it disrupted both radio communications and the functionality of the radio compass.
Furthermore, the flight path deviated from the suggested route, which resulted in the aircraft entering hazardous airspace. The investigation also concluded that the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude while navigating the area between Boconó and Barinas.