Narrative:
The Cessna Caravan took off from San Juan at 11:38, for a flight to Tamarindo (TNO). An intermediate stop at La Fortuna was made at 11:55 to drop off a Japanese tourist. The flight left La Fortuna again at 12:05 for a 35-minute flight to Tamarindo. The aircraft collided with the active 5380 feet (1650 m) high Arenal volcano, at around 656 feet (200 m) below the crater.
PROBABLE CAUSE (translated from Spanish):
The Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes Aéreos (UIA), determined that the probable cause was 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 flight crew allowed the aircraft to fly in a controlled manner and unnoticed into the ground.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1. Loss of situational awareness and attention from the crew.
2. Inadequate monitoring and enforcement by the pilot not flying.
3. Lack of application or adherence to standard operating procedures established by SANSA.
4. Using flight procedures not written or approved.
5. Lack of culture regarding operational safety.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
» Video of the crash scene
accident date: 26-08-2000
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: HP-1357APP
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 26 August 2000 |
| Time: | 12:10 |
| Type: |  Cessna 208B Grand Caravan |
| Operating for: | Servicios Aéreos Nacionales - SANSA |
| Leased from: | AeroPerlas |
| Registration: | HP-1357APP |
| MSN: | 208B0709 |
| First flight: | 1998 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 792 |
| Engines: | 1 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-114A |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Arenal Volcano ( Costa Rica)
|
| Crash site elevation: | 1450 m (4757 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Fortuna Airport (FON/MRAN), Costa Rica |
| Tamarindo Airport (TNO/MRTM), Costa Rica | |
| Flightnumber: | 1644 |
The Cessna Caravan took off from San Juan at 11:38, for a flight to Tamarindo (TNO). An intermediate stop at La Fortuna was made at 11:55 to drop off a Japanese tourist. The flight left La Fortuna again at 12:05 for a 35-minute flight to Tamarindo. The aircraft collided with the active 5380 feet (1650 m) high Arenal volcano, at around 656 feet (200 m) below the crater.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE (translated from Spanish):
The Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes Aéreos (UIA), determined that the probable cause was 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 flight crew allowed the aircraft to fly in a controlled manner and unnoticed into the ground.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1. Loss of situational awareness and attention from the crew.
2. Inadequate monitoring and enforcement by the pilot not flying.
3. Lack of application or adherence to standard operating procedures established by SANSA.
4. Using flight procedures not written or approved.
5. Lack of culture regarding operational safety.
Classification:
VFR flight in IMC Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Boletín Informativo 2000 / DGAC, Unidad de Investigación de Accidentes» Video of the crash scene
Photos
accident date: 26-08-2000
type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
registration: HP-1357APP
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Fortuna Airport to Tamarindo Airport as the crow flies is 139 km (87 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Fortuna Airport to Tamarindo Airport as the crow flies is 139 km (87 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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