Boeing 707 crash, Dec 12, 1968 (51 killed), Caracas Carac...
Boeing 707 accident on December 12, 1968 near Caracas Caracas Federal District, Venezuela with 51 fatalities. Cause: Optical illusion: the crew mistook...
- Date: December 12, 1968
- Aircraft: Boeing 707
- Location: Caracas Caracas Federal District, Venezuela
- Fatalities: 51
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Optical illusion: the crew mistook the city lights of Maiquetia for the airport lights, causing a premature descent, with reduced visibility as a contributing factor
The Pan Am Boeing 707 flew from New York to Caracas and started a night approach to Maiquetia. On final it struck the sea about 18 km north of the airport. All 51 people aboard, 42 passengers and 9 crew, were killed, and only a few pieces of debris were found floating.