Investigation Summary
Cubana Flight 310 was operating a scheduled international service from Havana to Caracas. Upon reaching Venezuelan airspace, the crew was informed that Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas was closed due to catastrophic mudslides and flooding that had devastated the region. The flight diverted to Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia, where it entered a holding pattern for approximately 40 minutes. At 20:18 local time, while maneuvering for the approach, the crew reported they were descending from 8,000 feet to 4,000 feet. Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft struck the San Luis mountain range at an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters. The wreckage was located about 13 kilometers west of Valencia. The investigation classified the accident as a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), occurring in an area of significant geographical landmarks during adverse weather conditions that had already forced the closure of the primary destination.
Final Conclusions
The accident was determined to be a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The aircraft impacted the San Luis mountain range while the crew was executing a descent for approach to Valencia Airport. Contributing factors included the diversion necessitated by regional natural disasters (flooding and mudslides) and the extended period spent in a holding pattern prior to the final descent into mountainous terrain.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Cubana de Aviación Flight 310 - YouTube — A summary of the Cubana de Aviación Flight 310 accident, which occurred on December 25, 1999, involving a Yakovlev Yak-42D near Valencia, Venezuela.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Yakovlev Yak-42D Navigation Suite
The aircraft was equipped for international IFR flight, but the crew failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance while descending in a mountainous region.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Yakovlev Yak-42D manufactured in 1991 with MSN 4520424914068.
- 02The flight was diverted from Caracas to Valencia due to the 1999 Vargas tragedy (flooding and mudslides).
- 03The crash site was located approximately 13 kilometers west of Valencia and 12 kilometers east of Bejuma.
- 04All 12 crew members and 10 passengers were killed in the impact.
- 05The aircraft struck the San Luis mountain range, which features peaks up to 1,400 meters.