Boeing 737 accident near Maiquetia, Ve, October 16, 2008
On October 16, 2008 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Boeing 737, registered YV162T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Maiquetia (Maiquetia, Simon Bolivar airport). It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. No one was hurt; 55 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2008 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Maiquetia, Venezuela · Maiquetia, Simon Bolivar
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 55 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737 2H4 · all 737s on the register
- Registration
- YV162T · no longer on the register · serial 23055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On Oct 16, a Rutaca Airlines B737, Venezuelan registration YV162T, exited runway 10 upon landing at Simon Bolivar Airport, Maiqueita, Venzuela. Heavy rain was reported at the airport. The nose gear collapsed, and damage to the wheel well and nose section of the airplane was reported. The Venezuela JIAA requested recorder readout assistance from the NTSB. The investigation is being conducted by the Venezuelan JUNTA INVESTIGADORA DE ACCIDENTES DE AVIACIÓN (JIAA) AV. Francisco de Miranda Torre Minfra, piso 20 Caracas-Venezuela. Teléfonos (0212) 2015491 / 2015438 / 2015410 / 2015411 / 2015436 Fax (0212)2015545
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
- Operator: Rutaca Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: SVPR Puerto Ordaz
- Destination: SVMI Maiquetia
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 10
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 6 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 47 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.