Investigation Summary
The aircraft, a US-built Fairchild F-27A delivered new to Avensa in 1958, was operating a short hop between Porlamar and Cumaná. Shortly after takeoff at approximately 18:45 local time, the aircraft entered a climb phase that deviated from established departure corridors. The region around Porlamar is characterized by mountainous terrain, including San Juan Mountain (also referred to as Cerro Piache in some records). The aircraft struck the slope of the mountain and was completely destroyed by the impact. While some sources suggest the aircraft was arriving from Carúpano and descending through thick clouds, the primary investigative consensus from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives indicates the crash occurred during the climb phase following a departure from Porlamar. The discrepancy in flight direction (departure vs. arrival) is noted in historical records, but the physical evidence of the impact site on the mountain slope confirmed a failure to maintain terrain clearance.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the crew's failure to follow the published departure procedures for Porlamar Airport. The specific reason for this deviation remained undetermined. The aircraft was written off following total disintegration on impact.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Fairchild F-27 Turboprop
A twin-engine turboprop airliner based on the Fokker F27 Friendship design, built under license in the United States.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was delivered new to Avensa on September 18, 1958.
- 02The accident resulted in the deaths of all 20 passengers and 3 crew members.
- 03The impact site was located approximately 10 kilometers from Porlamar Airport.
- 04The aircraft had previously been involved in a gear-up landing at Porlamar on October 22, 1958, which resulted in no fatalities.
- 05The aircraft's Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was 12.
- 06While official records state 23 fatalities, some contemporary news reports initially cited 22.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Adherence to Published Departure Procedures
The investigation emphasized the critical necessity for flight crews to strictly adhere to published instrument departure procedures (DPs) and climb gradients, especially in mountainous coastal regions where terrain clearance is minimal during the initial climb phase.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Flight Phase Discrepancy
Reference ↗There is a conflict between sources regarding the flight's direction; the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives states the crash occurred during climb after departing Porlamar for Cumaná, while the Aviation Safety Network suggests it occurred during descent to Porlamar from Carúpano.