ATR42-300 crash, Feb 21, 2008 (46 killed), Mérida
ATR42-300 accident on February 21, 2008 near Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela with 46 fatalities. Cause: Use of an unpublished departure procedure in cloud...
- Date: February 21, 2008
- Aircraft: ATR42-300
- Location: Mérida, Mérida, Venezuela
- Fatalities: 46
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Use of an unpublished departure procedure in cloud and reliance on an unreliable magnetic compass, which led the aircraft into rising terrain. The captain's attempt to avoid the terrain was too late.
An ATR 42-300 operated by Santa Barbara Airlines on flight BBR518 departed Merida for Caracas. The crew used an unpublished departure procedure, climbed into cloud and made a turn using an unreliable magnetic compass that took the aircraft toward rising terrain. The aircraft struck the side of a mountain at about 4,100 metres and all 46 people on board died.