Country
Costa Rica
code

San José (Central Valley)

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 Douglas C-54D-10-DC Skymaster on Mt de la Muerte: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
799
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa - Howard
MSN:
10815
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt de la Muerte
San José (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:
En route from Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport to Howard AFB in Panama City, while cruising in limited visibility, the four engine airplane struck the slope of Mt de la Muerte located about 54 km southeast of San José, Costa Rica. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The wreckage was located on 16 May 1975 in an isolated and mountainous area.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Cessna 402A in San José: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1970 at 0538 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1073C
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 – Golfito
Location:
San José-La Sabana
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
21200
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San José-La Sabana Airport, while in initial climb by night, the airplane hit power cables and crashed in a wooded area located 180 meters from the runway end. The captain and a second occupant were seriously injured while four other occupants were killed. Few hours later, a survivor died from his injuries. The captain died about four months later, on 29 September 1970.
Crew:
Teodorico Zamora Zamora, pilot,
Rodrigo Céspedes Zamora, copilot.
Passengers:
Robert Scott Williams,
José Joaquín Quesada Molina,
Caferino Mata Obando,
Roberto Hurtado Guerra.

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.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in San José: 23 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1946 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
RX-76
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Puerto Limón – San José
MSN:
20590
YOM:
1944
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
Circumstances:
On final approach to San José Airport, the aircraft was too low and hit the slope of a hill few km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in San José

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7770
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4257
YOM:
1941
Location:
San José
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Fairchild Pilgrim 100A on Mt Cedral: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1940 at 1227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild Pilgrim 100A
Operator:
Registration:
TI-9
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Parrita – San José
MSN:
6602
YOM:
1931
Location:
Mt Cedral
San José (Central Valley)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Parrita on a regular schedule service to San José, carrying four passengers and two crew members. While descending to San José-La Sabana Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with limited visibility due to clouds. Due to a strong west wind, the airplane slightly deviated from the approach path when it contacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Cedral (1,600 metres high) located about 10 km southwest of La Sabana Airport. The wreckage was found the following day about 30 metres below the summit. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Enrique Malek Lazaro, pilot
Emiliano Leal Jimenez.
Passengers:
Marcial Sequeira Padilla,
Ricardo Mora Vargas,
Jose Joaquín Barrantes Elizondo,
Rafael González Villalta.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while descending in limited visibility after it deviated from the prescribed approach route due to a strong west wind.
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