# NTSB DCA69R0002: Boeing 707, N494PA, Caracas, Venezuela, December 12, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 12, 1968
- Place: Caracas, Venezuela · CARACAS, Venezuela
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 51 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1972
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA69R0002
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA69R0002

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0063  68/12/12   CARACAS,VENEZUELA   BOEING 707          CR-  9  0  0  SCHED INTERNATL PASSG SRV ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2202                    N494PA              PX- 42  0  0                            50, 24000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            6737 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        OPERATOR - PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW YORK,NY                 CARACAS,VENEZUELA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
        REMARKS- INVESTIGATED AND REPORTED BY VENEZUELAN GOVT.PSBL VISUAL ILLUSION CAUSED BY TOWN LGTS ON UPSLOPE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N494PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N494PA-1969-04-02), registration cancelled 1969-04-02, S/N 19696 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707
- Registry model: [Boeing 707-321B](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-707-321b) (registry code 138366B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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