Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Oakland

Date & Time: Feb 29, 1976 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Security Air Transport
Registration:
N202Q
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Concord - San Jose
MSN:
500-793
YOM:
1959
Location:
Oakland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3346
Captain / Total hours on type:
684.00
Circumstances:
While cruising at low altitude in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck a hillside near Oakland. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The crew continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- High obstructions,
- Low ceiling,
- Rain,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm activity,
- Fog.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor off San Francisco

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1970 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N6654R
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José – San Francisco
MSN:
AF-485
YOM:
1953
Location:
San Francisco
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3300.00
Circumstances:
While approaching San Francisco Airport in foggy conditions, the crew reduced his altitude and passed below the minimum descent altitude when the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the San Francisco Bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog.
Probable cause:
Improper IFR operation on part of the crew who failed to follow the approved procedures. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Descended below MDA,
- Procedure requested identification of approach or runway lights not in effect by operator.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S near Baker: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1970 at 1233 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft E18
Operator:
Winchester Development Company
Registration:
N3621B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Jose - Baker - Oxbow
MSN:
BA-17
YOM:
1954
Location:
Baker
Oregon
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Circumstances:
While approaching Baker on a flight from San jose, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled, struck trees and crashed few miles from Baker. The wreckage was found four days later, on May 19. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- High density altitude (8,100 feet),
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Heavy aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-4 on Mt Arenal: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1961 at 0625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1006C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San José – Upala
MSN:
4960
YOM:
1942
Location:
Mt Arenal
Alajuela (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12950
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2300
Aircraft flight hours:
30385
Circumstances:
The crew departed San José Airport in the early morning on a cargo flight to Upala. About 20 minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of the Arenal volcano. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was slightly off course at the time of the accident due to a northeast wind. The crew was unable to distinguish the mountain that was shrouded in clouds (stratus). Also, the crew started the descent to Upala a bit too early, which was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in San José: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1023
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José - Los Chiles
Location:
San José
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San José-Juan Santamaria Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in a coffee plantation. A passenger was killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Source and photos: http://jotape-tangoindia.blogspot.ch/

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-414A in San Isidro de El General: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1959 at 0645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1005C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José – San Isidro de El General
MSN:
4959
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
LR019
Location:
San Isidro de El General
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from San José, the crew landed on soggy runway 02 at San Isidro de El General Airport. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran by 20 feet and collided with a house. All three crew members evacuated safely while a baby living in house was killed.
Probable cause:
The crew could not hold back the aircraft on its landing run because of the ineffectiveness of the brakes on an extremely wet runway. This condition was aggravated by the fact that the aircraft was operating with almost maximum landing weight.

Crash of a North American B-25J-30-NC Mitchell near San Jose: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1954
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
44-86783
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
108-47537
YOM:
1944
Location:
San José
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located southeast of San Jose. A crew member survived while seven other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in San Jose

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
N14938
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1027
YOM:
1935
Location:
San José
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47DL into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Nacionales - TAN Costa Rica
Registration:
TI-107
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guayaquil – San José
MSN:
4444
YOM:
1942
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight from Guayaquil to San José, the airplane failed to arrive at destination. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is possible that the aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the Costa Rican coast.

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Nicoya: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
TI-84
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nicoya – San José
MSN:
18-2374
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nicoya
Guanacaste (North Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames 5 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the Authorities of Costa Rica, the accident was caused by an act of sabotage. Investigations were able to determine that an engine failed shortly after rotation because a certain quantity of sand was introduced in the fuel tank. The goal and the author of this deliberate act were unclear.
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