Miami - San José

On final approach to San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the airplane descended below the glide until the right main gear struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 07 threshold. On impact, the landing gear was torn off. Out of control, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage then slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All 73 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Clipper Meteor' was damaged beyond repair.

Flight / Schedule

Miami - San José

Aircraft

Boeing 727-100

Registration

N327PA

MSN

19036

Year of Manufacture

1966

Date

September 3, 1980 at 02:37 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North)

Region

Central America • Costa Rica

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 3, 1980 at 02:37 PM, Miami - San José experienced a crash involving Boeing 727-100, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, with the event recorded near San José-Juan Santamaría Alajuela (Center-North).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

73 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 73 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 67, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the airplane descended below the glide until the right main gear struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 07 threshold. On impact, the landing gear was torn off. Out of control, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage then slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All 73 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Clipper Meteor' was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration N327PA, MSN 19036, year of manufacture 1966.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

On final approach to San José-Juan Santamaría Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility due to rain falls, the airplane descended below the glide until the right main gear struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 07 threshold. On impact, the landing gear was torn off. Out of control, the airplane struck the ground, lost its undercarriage then slid on several dozen meters before coming to rest. All 73 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Clipper Meteor' was damaged beyond repair.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

6

Passengers On Board

67

Estimated Survivors

73

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 73

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Miami - San José

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Central America • Costa Rica

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Boeing 727-100

Registration

N327PA

MSN

19036

Year of Manufacture

1966

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