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4 fatalities

Night Approach Accident at Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga (N204RC)

Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga, VenezuelaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 17, 1991, a Gulfstream GII (registration N204RC) operated by Castor Trading Company was involved in an aviation accident near Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga, Venezuela during landing or approach. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain following a wrong approach configuration that led the aircraft descending below the minimum safe altitude. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft struck a mountain during a night approach to Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga after an unapproved LOC/DME procedure was used due to an inoperative ILS glideslope, killing all four occupants.

Incident Overview and Flight Context The accident occurred while the crew was completing a positioning flight from Caracas International Airport to Charallave-Óscar Machado Zuloaga. The flight was conducted at night, and the aircraft was on approach when the incident took place. ## Approach Procedure and Terrain Impact During descent, the crew was informed that the ILS glideslope for runway 10 was unserviceable. In response, the captain decided to improvise an unapproved LOC/DME approach. The copilot was serving as the pilot-in-command at the time of the accident. At an altitude of 2,500 feet on approach, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 9.3 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain following a wrong approach configuration that led the aircraft descending below the minimum safe altitude.
Controlled flight into terrain

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