ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 YV136T Puerto Ordaz Airport (PZO)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Monday 26 September 2011
Time:08:52
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC95 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51
Operator:Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela
Registration: YV136T
MSN: 47738/830
First flight: 1976-07-09 (35 years 3 months)
Total airframe hrs:71817
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A (HK3)
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 125
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 132
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Location:Puerto Ordaz Airport (PZO) (   Venezuela)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature:Domestic Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS/SVMI), Venezuela
Destination airport:Puerto Ordaz Airport (PZO/SVPR), Venezuela
Flightnumber: 342
Narrative:
A McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 passenger plane sustained substantial damage in a hard landing accident at Puerto Ordaz Airport (PZO), Venezuela. No serious injuries were reported among the five crew members and 125 passengers.
The airplane operated on a domestic service, flight VH342, from Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS). The captain performed the role of flight instructor for the copilot. A second copilot occupied the jump seat as an observer pilot.
Upon takeoff from Caracas at 08:00 hours local time, the nose rose quickly and the tail skid contacted the runway. The flight continued to Puerto Ordaz. On final approach the airspeed decreased to 123,8 knots, which was below the planned landing speed. The airplane descended quickly and touched down very hard, causing both engine mounts to break from the fuselage.

Probable Cause:

CAUSES (translated from Spanish):
The accident investigators, taking into account the characteristics of the accident and the evidence collected in the course of the investigation, considered the Human Factor as the reason for this accident, being able to demonstrate convincingly the following causes:
- There was a breach of the provisions in Chapter 4 (flight operations policies), paragraph 6 (sterile cabin) of the Operations Manual of the airline due to carrying out activities that were not related to the conduct of the flight.
- Lack of situational awareness of the Flight Instructor, the observer pilot and the first officer.
- The captain performed other duties, adding to the duties already being accomplished in his role as a flight instructor.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: JIAAC Venezuela
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 4 months
Accident number: 047/2011
Download report: Final report

Classification:
Heavy landing
Runway mishap

Sources:
» Ministry of Transport statement
» Avión de Aeropostal aterrizó de emergencia en Puerto Ordaz (El Nacional 26-9-2011)


Photos

photo of DC-9-51-OH-LYT
accident date: 26-09-2011
type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51
registration: OH-LYT
 

Video, social media

Aircraft history
date registration operator remarks
09 JUL 1976 OH-LYT McDonnell Douglas first flight
04 OCT 1976 OH-LYT Finnair delivered
01 APR 1984 OH-LYT Alisarda leased
16 OCT 1984 OH-LYT Finnair returned
10 FEB 1993 OH-LYT Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV) leased
08 JUN 1994 OH-LYT Finnair returned
16 NOV 2001 YV-14C Aeropostal bought
JAN 2006 YV136T Aeropostal new registration

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 Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport to Puerto Ordaz Airport as the crow flies is 528 km (330 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.

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.
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DC-9-50

  • 96 built
  • 5th loss
» safety profile

 Venezuela
  • 81st worst accident (at the time)
  • 95th worst accident (currently)
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