Overtec aircraft crash during demonstration flight in Venezuela

13 fatalities • Puerto Cabello, Venezuela • Takeoff (climb)

A twin-engine aircraft crashed during a climb shortly after takeoff from Puerto Cabello, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board.

What happened

On a demonstration flight conducted for the Venezuelan National Guard, a twin-engine aircraft operated by Overtec crashed near Puerto Cabello-General Bartolomé Salom Airport. The aircraft, which was leased from a Polish firm, was performing a flight from Puerto Cabello to Caracas at the time of the accident.

During the initial climb phase following departure, the aircraft experienced significant issues maintaining altitude. The plane subsequently entered a stall and impacted an open field. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that consumed the entire airframe. There were 13 fatalities and no survivors among the occupants.

Findings

Preliminary details indicate that the aircraft encountered difficulty gaining height during its ascent, which led to the aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash into the field.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during the climb phase due to an inability to maintain sufficient altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-07-12 PZL-Mielec AN-28 accident near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela?

A twin-engine aircraft crashed during a climb shortly after takeoff from Puerto Cabello, resulting in the deaths of all 13 people on board.

Were there any fatalities in the 2001-07-12 PZL-Mielec AN-28 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 13 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-07-12 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-28, registration YV-117CP, operated by Overtec, at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during the climb phase due to an inability to maintain sufficient altitude.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.