Bell 206 accident near Montana Auyantepui, Ve, January 18, 2012
On January 18, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Bell 206 (helicopter), registered YV1985, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Montana Auyantepui. It was an aerial observation flight under non-U.S. private rules. 5 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Montana Auyantepui, Venezuela · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206 L4 · all 206s on the register
- Registration
- YV1985 · no longer on the register · serial 52022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 18, 2012, about 1715 universal coordinated time, a Bell 206 L-4 helicopter, Venezuelan registration YV1985, was destroyed when it collided with a mountain during a sightseeing flight near Montaña Auyantepui, Parque Nacional Canaima, in the State of Bolívar, Venezuela. Precipitation was noted near the accident location. The flight originated at the Aeródrome de Luepa (SVLP), in the State of Bolívar, Venezuela, with a destination of Uonquen Airport (SVUQ), Uon Quen, Venezuela. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Venezuela. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Junta Investigadora de Accidentes de Aviación Civil Ministerio del Poder Popular para Transporte Acuático y Aéreo Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre MTC, Piso-20 Caracas, Venezuela Telephone: (+58 212) 2014200 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by or obtained for the Government of Venezuela.
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
- Other weather encounter during enroute (cruise)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250 C30P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lloyd Aviation C.A.
The flight
- Departed from: SVLP Las Lagunitas
- Destination: SVUQ Uon Quen
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.