Country
Costa Rica
code

Limón (Caribbean Coast)

Crash of a Piaggio P.180 Avanti off Puerto Limón: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 2022 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piaggio P.180 Avanti
Operator:
Registration:
D-IRSG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Palenque – Puerto Limón
MSN:
1196
YOM:
2009
Location:
Puerto Limón
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Palenque Airport, Chiapas, on a private flight to Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. While on approach at an altitude of about 2,000 feet at night, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea some 28 km southeast of the destination airport. The accident occurred three minutes prior to ETA. Few debris and two dead bodies were found two days later. On board were the German businessman Rainer Schaller, founder of the fitness chain 'McFit', his wife, two children and a friend.

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 Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Cahuita

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1979 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Registration:
TI-RCP
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Panama City - San josé
Location:
Cahuita
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was performing a flight from Panama City to San José, carrying one pilot, the President of the RECOPE Group, and his wife (RECOPE - Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo). En route, the pilot informed ATC about an engine failure and was cleared to divert to Puerto Limón Airport for an emergency landing. While descending by night, he realized he could not make it so he ditched the aircraft about 150 meters off Cahuita, some 30 km southeast of Puerto Limón Airport. Both occupants were injured and rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter off Parismina

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1977 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Costarican Government
Registration:
TI-SPF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José - San José
MSN:
100
YOM:
1956
Location:
Parismina
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
5122
Circumstances:
Operated by the Costa Rican Ministry of National Security, the aircraft departed San José-Juan Santamaria Airport at 0710LT for an overflight of the Tortuguero National Park, carrying two pilots, a Park Officer and three photographers. While cruising over the sea off Parismina, the engine exploded. Unable to reach the nearest airport, the crew ditched the aircraft about 500 meters offshore. All six occupants swam to the shore and the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine explosion for unknown reasons.

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 an Emsco B.3 off Puerto Limón: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1930 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Emsco B.3
Operator:
Pablo Sídar Escobar
Registration:
X-BACO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mexico City – Buenos Aires
MSN:
11
YOM:
1930
Location:
Puerto Limón
Limón (Caribbean Coast)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Mexico City on a non stop flight to Buenos Aires with two crew members on board. While flying along the east coast of Costa Rica, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in the sea off Puerto Limón. SAR operations were initiated and some debris were found three weeks later on local beaches. No trace of both crew members was ever found.
Crew:
Col Pablo Sídar Escobar, pilot,
Lt Carlos Rovirosa Pérez.
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