Crash of a Let L-410UVP-E in San José: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 2000 at 1304 LT
Type of aircraft:
Let L-410
Operator:
Taxi Aéreo Centroamericano - TACSA
Registration:
YS-09-C
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
San José - Tortuguero
MSN:
86 16 20
YOM:
1986
Location:
San José-Tobías Bolaños
Heredia (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
7801
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3000
Circumstances:
After takeoff from San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport, en route to the Tortuguero National Park, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a house located in the district of Rohrmoser, about 3 km southeast of the airport. Four passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured, some seriously. Three people in the house, a nurse and two little girls were uninjured. Fifteen days after the accident, on January 30, the captain died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
Possible loss of longitudinal control of the aircraft in flight, due to not reaching the minimum climb speed, due to a wrong takeoff configuration as the flaps were retracted (zero position).
The following contributing factors were identified:
- Inadequate weight distribution that affected the position of the aircraft.
- The CofG was beyond the rear limit, out of the envelope.
- The crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist.
- The total weight of the aircraft was above the MTOW.
- The high density altitude.
- Lack of supervision of the dispatch of the flight by the operator. (Absence of procedures).
- Self-induced pressure from the crew for an expeditious operation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in San José: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1998 at 0738 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
TI-AVP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
San José – Nicoya
MSN:
31-7912087
YOM:
1979
Location:
San José-Tobías Bolaños
Heredia (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
About two minutes after takeoff from San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in the district of Rohrmoser, about 3 km southeast of the airport. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander near Guapiles

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1997 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
N851JA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tortuguero – San José
MSN:
913
YOM:
1981
Location:
Guapiles
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Tortuguero to San José, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in a triple canopy jungle near Guapiles. All seven occupants were rescued and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in San José: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1996 at 1003 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Tomás Acevedo (SAETA)
Registration:
TI-AGP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José – Quepos
Location:
San José-Tobías Bolaños
Heredia (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered an engine failure and stalled. It crashed in a field, bursting into flames. A passenger was killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2K6 in San José

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1991
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-200
Operator:
Registration:
EI-CBL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José
MSN:
20957
YOM:
1974
Location:
San José-Juan Santamaría
Alajuela (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The copilot was the pilot-in-command on approach to runway 07 at San José-Juan Santamaría Airport. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog and was unable to locate the runway and its lighting system. On short final, the captain realized that the aircraft was not properly aligned on the glide and took over controls. He attempted to correct the trajectory but the unstable aircraft continued to descend and landed to the right of the runway. The aircraft rolled for about 1,500 metres when it struck a drainage ditch. Both main landing gears were torn off and the aircraft came to rest on its belly in a grassy area. All 42 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The following factors were reported:
- Poor approach planning,
- Lack of crew coordination,
- The captain failed to initiate a go-around procedure while the aircraft was unstable and not properly aligned,
- Wrong approach configuration,
- Lack of visibility due to poor weather conditions.

Crash of a Casa 212 Aviocar 200 near San José: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1990 at 0829 LT
Type of aircraft:
Casa 212 Aviocar
Operator:
Registration:
TI-SAB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San José - Palmar Norte - Golfito
MSN:
163
YOM:
1980
Flight number:
BB032
Location:
San José
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
4822
Captain / Total hours on type:
2253.00
Aircraft flight hours:
3589
Aircraft flight cycles:
7217
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San José-Tobías Bolaños Airport in relative good weather conditions. While climbing to an altitude of 6,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of the White Peak (2,438 meters high) located about 20 km southeast of the airport. The wreckage was found about 600 meters from the summit and all 23 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was good but some atmospheric turbulences were reported in the vicinity of the mountains.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by atmospheric turbulences. At the time of the accident, the crew was tired which was considered as a contributing factor as well as the fact that the operator failed to issue a valid flight safety program.

Crash of a Boeing 727-22 in San José

Date & Time: May 23, 1988 at 1706 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 727-100
Operator:
Registration:
TI-LRC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San José – Managua – Miami
MSN:
18856
YOM:
1965
Flight number:
LR628
Location:
San José-Juan Santamaría
Alajuela (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll on runway 07, at V1 speed, the captain started the rotation but the aircraft failed to respond. The crew decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, crossed a ditch and came to rest in a field, bursting into flames. All 26 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Excess weight in the front cargo hold displaced the centre of gravity to the forward limit. Two additional trim units would have been required for takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in Boca San Carlos

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1987 at 1436 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
YN-BFO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Managua - Panama City
MSN:
45324
YOM:
1958
Location:
Boca San Carlos
Alajuela (Center-North)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a cargo flight from Managua to Panama City, the engine n°3 detached and the n°4 caught fire. The pilot was able to extinguish the fire but unable to feather the propeller. Passengers jettisoned the cargo and eventually, the crew managed to ditch the aircraft in the Río San Carlos near Boca San Carlos. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II off Playa Hermosa

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1986 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Registration:
HK-2756P
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tuluá – Oaxaca
MSN:
404-0663
YOM:
1980
Location:
Playa Hermosa
Guanacaste (North Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Tuluá-Heriberto Gil Martinez Airport on 16 November at 2130LT on an illegal flight to Oaxaca, Mexico, carrying four people and a load consisting of bags of cocaine for a total weight estimated between 250 and 500 kilos. A fuel stop was completed somewhere en route and arriving in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, the crew was supposed to jettison the bags when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea. The wreckage was found the next morning about 50 meters offshore. All four occupants were later captured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL on Mt Irazú: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1984 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TI-SAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés – San José
MSN:
4231
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Irazú
Cartago (East Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 7,500 feet in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Alto Santa Rosa located by the Mt Irazú (volcano). The wreckage was found few meters below the summit and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
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