1950s Venezuela Air Crash: YV-C-AMA Flight 253

Flight Details and Disappearance On 26 November, aircraft YV-C-AMA departed Idlewild Airport in New York for Maiquetía, Venezuela, operating as scheduled flight 253. The aircraft carried 7 crew members and 18 passengers. The flight plan specified an altitude of 17,000 feet and an estimated duration of 9 hours and 48 minutes, with Barcelona and Curaçao listed as alternate airports. The pilot transmitted two position reports before the aircraft disappeared. The first report was made at 0751 hours from a position 75 miles northwest of Maiquetía at 17,500 feet. Fourteen minutes later, the second report was transmitted from 35 miles northwest of Maiquetía at 7,000 feet. No further communication was received after the aircraft was cleared to change to the tower frequency. When the aircraft failed to report to the control tower, it was repeatedly called on all Maiquetía Control Centre frequencies at 0815 hours with no response. A state of emergency was declared at 0835 hours. Subsequent investigations established that the aircraft struck the western slope of peak El Avila in El Avila National Park at an altitude of 6,702 feet, resulting in the deaths of all 25 occupants.