At 12:28 PM (local time) yesterday, Monday, a Cessna U206G Stationair with registration TI-GER operated by AeroCaribe Air Charter crashed during its approach to Tobías Bolaños Airport in San José, Costa Rica. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and four passengers, of which four lost their lives.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation reported that the airplane disappeared from radar at 12:30 PM while on a flight from Barra de Tortuguero to San José. The aircraft was flying over Cerro Piedra Blanca, located in the Escazú hills at approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), before losing contact. It was later found on the slopes of Cerro Cedral, at 2,420 meters above sea level.
The accident occurred under challenging conditions, as the Tobías Bolaños Airport was closed due to low visibility, and the aircraft was diverted to Juan Santamaría International Airport. Shortly after, contact with the airplane was lost in the mountainous area.
The search involved a Piper Seneca (registration TI-BBS) from the same company, a Piper Arrow (TI-AMZ) from CarmonAir, and a helicopter (TI-BJO) from Aerodiva. At 2:00 PM, Captain Everardo Carmona, flying the Piper Arrow, located the wreckage of the aircraft at 7,000 feet.
Due to the area’s geography, rescue teams took six hours to reach the crash site on foot. There, they confirmed the deaths of the pilot, Mario Miranda (40 years old), the copilot, Ruth Mora Chavarría (26 years old), and passengers Jean Segura Prendas (28 years old), Gabriel Calleja Montealegre (64 years old), and Enrique Castillo (56 years old). The sole survivor, Paola Amador Segura, was found conscious, outside the aircraft, and with multiple injuries.
Costa Rica’s civil aviation authority is investigating the causes of the accident.
Developing story.
