Investigation Summary
The flight departed runway 05 at Maturín Airport at 13:25 local time. The climb appeared normal until the aircraft reached approximately 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). At this point, the crew reported an emergency to the control tower, indicating a severe control problem. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the aircraft in a steep dive before impact. The investigation focused heavily on the flight control systems, specifically the elevator assembly, as the sudden and violent nature of the loss of control suggested a mechanical failure in the pitch axis. However, the wreckage was severely fragmented, and investigators could not find conclusive evidence of a pre-impact malfunction.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the aircraft suffered a loss of control for undetermined reasons. While a malfunction of the elevator system was considered a highly probable factor, the lack of physical evidence from the wreckage prevented a definitive finding.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Diógenes Torrellas Leon, age 49
Systems & Failure Modes
Elevator
A potential malfunction of the elevator system was investigated as the primary suspect for the sudden loss of pitch control.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was seven years old at the time of the accident.
- 02Captain Diógenes Torrellas Leon was a highly experienced pilot with 25,000 flight hours.
- 03The accident occurred only five minutes after takeoff.
- 04The NTSB assisted Venezuelan authorities in the investigation.
- 05Fatality counts vary between sources; while some records state 75, contemporary reports from the New York Times and local authorities confirmed 77 victims.