Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando off Puntarenas: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1970 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José - San José
MSN:
254
YOM:
1945
Location:
Puntarenas
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew (four technicians and three pilots) departed San José-Juan Santamaría Airport in the morning on a post maintenance test flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the gulf of Nicoya off Puntarenas. The wreckage was found 1,2 km east of San Lucas Island. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander near Paso Canoas: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1968 at 0837 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1063C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José – Paso Canoas
MSN:
14
YOM:
1968
Location:
Paso Canoas
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Paso Canoas Airstrip on a flight from San José, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in the mouth of the Rio Grande de Terraba, about 7 km west of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster off Puerto Limón: 69 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1965 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
TC-48
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Buenos Aires - Howard - San Salvador
MSN:
35983
YOM:
1945
Location:
Puerto Limón
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
60
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
69
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Buenos Aires to the US with intermediate stops at Howard AFB and San Salvador, carrying 60 cadets of the Argentinian Air Force and nine crew members. After his departure from Howard AFB, while overflying the Caribbean Sea along the Costa Rican coast, the captain reported to ATC that the engine number three was on fire and elected to divert to the nearest airport. This was the last radio contact with the crew as shortly later, the four engine aircraft crashed into the sea off Puerto Limón. Few life vest and debris were found floating on water and none of the 69 occupants survived.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando on Turrialba Volcano: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CC-CAN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guatemala City – Panama City
Location:
Turrialba
Cartago (East Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising by night at an insufficient altitude, the airplane struck the slope of the Turrialba Volcano. The wreckage was found a day later and all six occupants have been killed.

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 Curtiss C-46-A-55-CK Commando in Palma Sur

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1024C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
268
YOM:
1945
Location:
Palma Sur
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Palma Sur Airport, the crew noted that a private Piper registered TI-281 just turned onto the runway. To avoid any collision, the crew veered off runway to the right when the airplane collided with trees and came to rest. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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 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 Douglas C-47B-5-DK in San Ramón Mountains: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1002
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Palmar Sur – San Isidro de El General
MSN:
14633/26078
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Ramón Mountains
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in the San Ramón Mountains. Six occupants were rescued while nine others were killed.
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