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Aircraft crash near Guapiles during flight from Tortuguero (N851JA)

Guapiles, Costa RicaFlight

On March 7, 1997, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration N851JA) operated by Travelair - Costa Rica was involved in an aviation accident near Guapiles, Costa Rica in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure during the flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane traveling from Tortuguero to San José crashed into a dense jungle area near Guapiles, resulting in no fatalities among the seven people on board.

What happened

During a flight proceeding from Tortuguero toward San José, an aircraft encountered a loss of control while navigating through the region. The plane eventually impacted a triple canopy jungle located in the vicinity of Guapiles.

Despite the impact and the total destruction of the aircraft, search and rescue operations were successful. All seven occupants on board were recovered from the crash site without any reported fatalities.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified that the primary factor leading to the crash was an engine failure while the aircraft was in flight. The specific underlying reason for this mechanical failure remains undetermined.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure during the flight.
Engine failure

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