What happened
On the day of the accident, a single-engine aircraft operated by SANSA - Servicios Aéreos Nacionales departed San Juan Airport at 11:38 local time, bound for Tamarindo with a scheduled stop at La Fortuna Airport. Following the arrival at La Fortuna, where a passenger was dropped off, the aircraft departed again at 12:05 local time.
Approximately five minutes after the second takeoff, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 5,380 feet. During this phase of flight, the aircraft entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and subsequently collided with the side of the Arenal Volcano. The wreckage was located roughly 200 meters below the volcano's summit. The accident resulted in 10 fatalities, with no survivors among the crew and passengers.
Findings
At the time of the impact, the aircraft was operating in IMC conditions, which limited visibility during the cruise phase of the flight.