Investigation Summary
On the morning of March 11, 1983, Avensa Flight 007 was operating a scheduled domestic service from Caracas to Barquisimeto. The region was experiencing heavy fog, significantly reducing visibility for the arrival. Despite the poor meteorological conditions, the crew proceeded with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach. During the landing, the aircraft touched down hard 1,015 meters past the runway threshold. The investigation cited improper in-flight decisions and inadequate supervision, noting the aircraft was in a wrong approach configuration for the conditions. The force of the hard landing tore off the landing gear, and the aircraft continued its forward momentum, sliding off the runway before exploding. The structural failure of the fuselage, which broke in two, and the subsequent fire contributed to the death toll among the 45 passengers and 5 crew members.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the crew's decision to continue the approach in a wrong configuration, leading the aircraft to pass below the glide path until ground impact. Contributing factors included the failure of the crew to initiate a go-around when the approach became unstable, improper in-flight decision-making, inadequate supervision of the flight, and the lack of visibility caused by the prevailing fog.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Instrument Landing System (ILS)
A precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather. The crew utilized this system during a thick fog approach but failed to execute a safe landing.
Landing Gear
The undercarriage of the aircraft, which collapsed during the hard landing 1,015 meters beyond the runway threshold.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft landed hard 1,015 meters beyond the runway threshold.
- 02One crew member and 22 passengers were killed in the accident.
- 03The aircraft was a Douglas DC-9-32 manufactured in 1967.
- 04Ten passengers sustained serious injuries, while 27 occupants in total survived.
- 05The crash occurred during a scheduled revenue flight within Venezuela.
- 06Among the fatalities was Luis Enrique Arias, a prominent sports narrator for Venezolana de Television.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Stabilized Approach Criteria
Source ↗The investigation emphasized the necessity for flight crews to strictly adhere to stabilized approach criteria and to initiate an immediate go-around if the aircraft deviates from the glide path or is in an improper configuration for landing.
Supervision and Decision Making
Source ↗Recommendations were made regarding the improvement of in-flight supervision and decision-making processes, particularly when operating in adverse meteorological conditions such as thick fog.