Avensa Flight 007

Avensa Flight 007

File:152aw - AVENSA DC-9-51; YV-820C@PMV;10.10.2001 (6328924458).jpg An Avensa DC-9, similar to the aircraft involved in the accident
Accident summary
Date	11 March 1983
Summary	Pilot error in bad weather
Site	Barquisimeto Airport, Venezuela
Passengers	45
Crew	5
Injuries (non-fatal)	10
Fatalities	23
Survivors	27
Aircraft type	Douglas DC-9-32
Operator	Avensa
Registration	YV-67C
Flight origin	Caracas Airport, Venezuela
Destination	Barquisimeto Airport, Venezuela

Avensa Flight 007 was operated by a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 which crashed on 11 March 1983 on a domestic flight from Caracas Airport to Barquisimeto Airport, Venezuela. It landed hard, skidded off of the runway and exploded. Twenty-two passengers and one crew member died.

Accident

The Douglas DC-9, registration YV-67C, was on an internal flight when it made an ILS approach in thick fog at Barquisimeto Airport, Venezuela. The DC-9 landed hard 1,015 meters beyond the runway threshold, causing the landing gear to collapse. The aircraft subsequently slid off the runway and exploded. The aircraft was carrying 45 passengers and 5 crew, of whom one crewman and 22 of the passengers died. Ten passengers were seriously injured. Amongst the dead was Luis Enrique Arias, sports narrator of the Venezuelan Television Network.

Investigation

The probable causes were ruled to be "Improper in-flight decisions and inadequate supervision of the flight".