Jiml1126 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 850 times:
following reports from Cnn.com
22 dead in Venezuela air crash
January 25, 2001
Web posted at: 7:43 p.m. EST (0043 GMT)
CARACAS, Venezuela -- An airplane crashed Thursday night while en route from Canaima, Venezuela, to the river port city of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, CNN has learned.
Details were sketchy, but CNN has been told at least 22 people died in the crash. The number of people on board was not available.
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 3432 posts, RR: 47 Reply 4, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 598 times:
A very sad day indeed. The plane was filled with, amongst others, 5 Dutch tourists. So the plane crash caught some special attention here, especially because it reminds of the 1996 crash of the DC-3 in The Netherlands which killed 32, it generates discussions here in the media if the DC-3 is still fit to fly passengers because engine problems can have such results.
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
L-188 From United States, joined Jul 1999, 28610 posts, RR: 73 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 587 times:
Correct me if I am wrong but I belive this aircraft was a Basler Turbine conversion...Can anybody confirm this.
MEA....The DC-3 airframe is one of the strongest around. I would have not problems flying one of them. Besides if I am correct in saying that it was a Basler Conversion and alleged "problems" with the original R-1830's would be moot.
Besides for a double row radial engine the 1830 is pretty much bulletproof.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
TEDSKI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 526 times:
What the hell was that airline flying WW2 era aircraft like the DC-3? I can see if they were flying a DC-8 or DC-9 aircraft that was close or over 30 years of age, but a DC-3? Didn't those Americans that were on board think twice before boarding that aircraft?
Ussherd From United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), joined Feb 2000, 322 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 521 times:
I flew on a DC-3 belonging to Servivensa on that same route 5 years ago. The aircraft did a fly-by of the angel falls, giving fantastic views of the dramatic "lost world" landscape. It was a pretty incredible experience, made all the more so by the fact that I was flying on a classic airframe. It's very sad that what likely was a wonderful trip should have ended so tragically.
Ua747-400 From Venezuela, joined Feb 2000, 20 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 495 times:
Greetings,
The sole purpose of having a DC-3 on that route is for sightseeing. Even though the aircraft is old the maintenance applied to each of its components is thourough, the news stated that the aircraft was in regulation standards. I live in Venezuela and never even heard of RUTACA, I was astonished that they flew a DC-3, but what im shure that the captain and first officer did everything they could to save the passengers. This is a tough blow for everyone. I really feel bad about this accident and hope the families of the victims can one day overcome the pain. My prayers go with the souls of this tragedy.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 2812 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 476 times:
The Rutaca DC-3 in question was on its way from Canaima (where Angel Falls is located) and had stopped in Ciudad Bolivar on its way to Porlamar, Margarita. It crashed on its way out of Ciudad Bolivar when an engine caught fire; it crashed into a residential area. 2 children on the ground were injured. The death toll is confirmed as 24, comprising 20 passengers and 4 crew members; there were no survivors. The crew and 2 passengers were Venezuelan while the other pax included Americans, Dutch, Italians, Hungarians and the Austrian.
DC-3s are commonly used in Venezuela for flights to Angel Falls - the planes fly right past the fall, the highest in the world, affording passengers a spectacular view and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The airline, Rutaca, had a previously impeccable safety record and operates various equipment throughout Venezuela and to Port of Spain and Tobago. (The EMB-110 Bandeirante is the type used to Trinidad and Tobago.) They fly charters and also scheduled services. Their headquarters are at Ciudad Bolivar, in fact.
A very sad incident indeed. May those who died rest in peace and may God bless their bereaved friends and relatives.
Trintocan.
ps I have been to Ciudad Bolivar and passed by the airport and saw DC-3s there - I have never flown to Canaima though. The scenic city is located on the banks of the Orinoco River and boasts the only bridge spanning the river, the Angostura Bridge, which is the longest bridge in South America.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 2812 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 441 times:
The latest news is that only 3 Americans were aboard that plane; the 3 others thought to be Americans were in fact Canadians. Hence, another nationality has become included among the casualties.
Personally, I do not see why the DC-3 should be blamed - after all just about any type of plane may be involved in an accident and, even more pertinently, any type can be kept in service for extended periods once stringent maintenance is carried out. The DC-3s have lasted nearly 70 years in service, with estimates on flying airframes varying between 400 and 1000; if the latter is true then there are nearly twice as many DC-3's still flying today as there were DC-10s and TriStars ever built! Not that I want to decry the trijets but that is a testimony to the durability and reliability of the DC-3s. If I ever get the opportunity to fly in one of these majestic old birds I would certainly do so.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 2812 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 424 times:
To answer your question, TWAneedsNOhelp, the investigation is focusing on the plane's engines. From eyewitness reports and the conversation with the tower, one of the plane's engines had caught fire after it had left Maturin. The pilots were trying to return to the airport when the plane went down.
So engine failure is being touted as the culprit here.
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