Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in San José

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1959 at 0830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Aerolineas Nacionales - Costa Rica
Registration:
TI-1020
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José – Parrita
Location:
San José-La Sabana
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, one or two propeller blades detached from the left engine, struck the cockpit and punctured the fuselage. The captain was seriously injured and the copilot was able to make an emergency braking procedure and the aircraft came to rest in flames. All nine occupants were evacuated and the aircraft was partially destroyed.

Crash of a Fairchild Pilgrim 100A on Mt Cedral: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1940 at 1227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild Pilgrim 100A
Operator:
Registration:
TI-9
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Parrita – San José
MSN:
6602
YOM:
1931
Location:
Mt Cedral
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Parrita on a regular schedule service to San José, carrying four passengers and two crew members. While descending to San José-La Sabana Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. Due to a strong west wind, the airplane slightly deviated from the approach path when it contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Cedral (1,600 metres high) located about 10 km southwest of La Sabana Airport. The wreckage was found the following day about 30 metres below the summit. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Enrique Malek Lazaro, pilot
Emiliano Leal Jimenez.
Passengers:
Marcial Sequeira Padilla,
Ricardo Mora Vargas,
Jose Joaquín Barrantes Elizondo,
Rafael González Villalta.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while descending in limited visibility after it deviated from the prescribed approach route due to a strong west wind.

Crash of a Martin B-10B in Parrita

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-67
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
598
YOM:
1934
Location:
Parrita
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in an open field located in Parrita and was destroyed. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.
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