Alajuela (Center-North)

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San José – Cartagena

MSN:

370-4

YOM:

1971

Location:

Country:

Region:

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll from San José-Juan Santamaria Airport runway 07, one of the tyre burst. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, hit obstacles and came to rest near the perimeter fence. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan on Mt Arenal: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 2000 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HP-1357APP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

San Juan – La Fortuna – Tamarindo

MSN:

208-0709

YOM:

1998

Flight number:

RZ1644

Location:

Mt Arenal

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2354

Copilot / Total flying hours:

350

Aircraft flight hours:

792

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed San Juan Airport at 1138LT on a flight to Tamarindo with an intermediate stop in La Fortuna on behalf of SANSA - Servicios Aéreos Nacionales. At La Fortuna Airport, a Japanese tourist was drop off and the aircraft took off at 1205LT. About five minutes after takeoff, while cruising in IMC conditions at an altitude of 5,380 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of the Arenal Volcano. The wreckage was found about 200 metres below the summit and all 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Karl Acevedo Neverman, pilot,
William Badilla Salazar, copilot.
Passengers:
Terry Pratt,
Silvia Rhissiner,
Catherine Shoep,
Steven Bohmer,
Helena Gutierrez-Bohmer,
Frank Consolazio,
Yudi Consolazio,
Cristopher Damia.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The following findings were identified:
- The pilot's unsafe flying and failure to maintain adequate separation (vertical and horizontal) with mountainous terrain and not remain in VMC. Moreover, lack of timely corrective action by the crew allowed the aircraft to fly in a controlled manner and unnoticed into the ground.
- Loss of situational awareness and attention from the crew.
- Inadequate monitoring and enforcement by the pilot not flying.
- Lack of application or adherence to standard operating procedures established by SANSA.
- Using flight procedures not written or approved.
- Lack of culture regarding operational safety.

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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tegucigalpa-Managua-San José

MSN:

20957

YOM:

1974

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San José – Managua – Miami

MSN:

18856

YOM:

1965

Flight number:

LR628

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Managua - Panama City

MSN:

45324

YOM:

1958

Location:

Boca San Carlos

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Ciudad Quesada: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1984

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N62WS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

12005

YOM:

1943

Location:

Ciudad Quesada

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was completing a flight from the US to Nicaragua, carrying seven people and a load of weapons and ammunitions for the Contras in Nicaragua. En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Ciudad Quesada. All seven occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying with a wrong registration CF-ETE while the correct reg was N62WS.

Crash of a Boeing 727-21 in San José

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1980 at 1437 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-100

Operator:

Registration:

N327PA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Miami - San José

MSN:

19036

YOM:

1966

Flight number:

PA421

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the airplane descended below the glide until the right main gear struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 07 threshold. On impact, the landing gear was torn off. Out of control, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage then slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All 73 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Clipper Meteor' was damaged beyond repair.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-880-22-2 in San José: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-880

Operator:

Monarch Aviation

Registration:

N8817E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San José - Caracas

MSN:

22-00-65

YOM:

1962

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Two minutes and 20 seconds after takeoff from runway 25 at San José-Juan Santamaria Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane rolled to the right, lost height and crashed in a wooded area located 4 km from the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty as both CVR and FDR were inoperative at the time of the accident. However, the assumption that the accident was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft was not ruled out.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in San José: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1976 at 1353 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 402

Operator:

Registration:

TI-AVE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San José - Santa José

Location:

Country:

Region: