San José - Caracas

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.

Flight / Schedule

San José - Caracas

Aircraft

Convair CV-880

Registration

N8817E

MSN

22-00-65

Year of Manufacture

1962

Date

August 20, 1977 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North)

Region

Central America • Costa Rica

Narrative Report

On August 20, 1977 at 12:00 AM, San José - Caracas experienced a crash involving Convair CV-880, operated by Monarch Aviation, with the event recorded near San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North).

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

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.

Aircraft reference details include registration N8817E, MSN 22-00-65, year of manufacture 1962.

Fatalities

Total

3

Crew

3

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

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.

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

3

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 3

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

San José - Caracas

Flight Type

Cargo

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Central America • Costa Rica

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Convair CV-880

Registration

N8817E

MSN

22-00-65

Year of Manufacture

1962

Similar Plane Crashes

December 31, 1928 at 12:00 AM

Pan American World Airways - PAA

Loening C-2 Air Yacht

The airplane was engaged in a survey mission over the Canal zone in Panama and departed San José Airport with two passengers and two crew members, a mechanic and a pilot. As the aircraft was too heavy, one passenger was asked to leave and part of the mail was offloaded as well. On the second attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off but was caught by downdrafts, struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

May 11, 1930 at 05:00 PM2 Fatalities

Pablo Sídar Escobar

Emsco B.3

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.

June 20, 1937 at 12:00 AM6 Fatalities

Empresa Nacional de Transporte Aéreo - ENTA

Travel Air 6000

Hit 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, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the six occupants was found. The wreckage was found in 1941.

February 25, 1940 at 12:00 AM

TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos

Ford 5

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

December 4, 1940 at 12:00 PM

TACA International Airlines - Transportes Aéreos Centro Americanos

Ford 5

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Occupant fate unknown.

December 7, 1940 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Corps - USAAC

Douglas C-33 (DC-2)

En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing after an engine fired in flight. The aircraft crash landed in a pasture and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.