Narrative:
The DC-3 took off from San Antonio del Tachira at 12:30 for a 2h45 min flight to Maiquetia. The plane didn't arrive at the destination and was found to have crashed at Páramo Turmal.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A navigational error in course of an instrument flight at insufficient altitude caused the accident. Contributing factors were: (1) failure to follow the route San Antonio-Maiquetia as called for by the LAV Operations Manual; (2) the flight took place outside of the route established by the National Airways Division; (3) overconfidence of the pilot in his knowledge of the route; (4) instrument flight which prevented visual checking of the position of the aircraft."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 9 March 1961 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-85-DL (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV |
| Registration: | YV-C-AZQ |
| MSN: | 19986 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 23352 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Páramo Turmal ( Venezuela)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | San Antonio del Tachira Airport (SVZ/SVSA), Venezuela |
| Caracas-Maiquetía Airport (CCS/SVMI), Venezuela |
The DC-3 took off from San Antonio del Tachira at 12:30 for a 2h45 min flight to Maiquetia. The plane didn't arrive at the destination and was found to have crashed at Páramo Turmal.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "A navigational error in course of an instrument flight at insufficient altitude caused the accident. Contributing factors were: (1) failure to follow the route San Antonio-Maiquetia as called for by the LAV Operations Manual; (2) the flight took place outside of the route established by the National Airways Division; (3) overconfidence of the pilot in his knowledge of the route; (4) instrument flight which prevented visual checking of the position of the aircraft."
Sources:
» ICAO Digest 13 (Circular 69)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from San Antonio del Tachira Airport to Caracas-Maiquetía Airport as the crow flies is 669 km (418 miles).
Distance from San Antonio del Tachira Airport to Caracas-Maiquetía Airport as the crow flies is 669 km (418 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Venezuela
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 3525th loss
- 1368th fatal accident
- 330th worst accident (at the time)
- 441st worst accident (currently)
Venezuela- 6th worst accident (at the time)
- 29th worst accident (currently)
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