What happened
On December 8, 2020, at approximately 22:22 UTC, a private Piper PA-34-220T, registration YV1608, crashed while attempting to land at Manuel Carlos Piar International Airport (SVPR) in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. The flight originated from Oscar Machado Zuloaga Airport (SVCS) and had originally been destined for Maturín (SVMT) before the pilot requested a diversion to Puerto Ordaz.
During the approach to runway 08, the aircraft was observed by air traffic controllers to be significantly high and off-axis. The pilot performed two separate 360-degree turns to reposition the aircraft. On the third attempt, while on final approach, the left wing of the Piper PA-34-220T struck the poles of the approach lighting system. This collision caused a loss of lift, forcing the aircraft to impact the ground approximately 50 meters from the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, specifically fractures to the tibia and fibula in both legs, while the passenger remained uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed, with significant damage noted to both propellers and a broken crankshaft in the right engine due to the ground impact. No post-crash fire was reported.
The investigation
The JIAAC investigation focused on the flight sequence and the pilot's maneuvers during the approach phase. Investigators examined the communications between the crew and Puerto Ordaz Tower, noting that controllers had repeatedly queried the pilot's intentions due to the high altitude and off-course trajectory of the aircraft during its multiple circling maneuvers.