Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Nicoya: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
TI-84
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nicoya – San José
MSN:
18-2374
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nicoya
Guanacaste (North Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames 5 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to the Authorities of Costa Rica, the accident was caused by an act of sabotage. Investigations were able to determine that an engine failed shortly after rotation because a certain quantity of sand was introduced in the fuel tank. The goal and the author of this deliberate act were unclear.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL near Tilarán: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Winged Cargo
Registration:
NC88876
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kingston – San José
MSN:
9249
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tilarán
Guanacaste (North Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While overflying the center of Costa Rica, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the region of Tilarán. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 7 occupants was found. On November 29, 1947, walkers found the wreckage in an isolated area of the Guanacaste Province.

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 Douglas C-33 near Puntarenas

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-33 (DC-2)
Operator:
Registration:
36-78
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1511
YOM:
1936
Location:
Puntarenas
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after an engine caught fire in flight. The aircraft crash landed in a pasture located in the area of Puntarenas and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

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.

Crash of a Martin B-10B in Parrita

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-67
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
598
YOM:
1934
Location:
Parrita
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure in flight, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in an open field located in Parrita and was destroyed. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Travel Air 6000 in the Cerro Las Vueltas: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Travel Air 6000
Operator:
Registration:
TI-3
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San José – San Isidro de El General
Location:
Cerro Las Vueltas
San José (Central Valley)
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 impacted trees and crashed in an isolated area located in the Cerro Las Vueltas while completing a flight from San José to San Isidro de El General. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was found in 1941.
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