7 fatalities

1970-05-22: Curtiss C-46 Commando (YV-C-AMK) — Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV — Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Puntarenas, Costa RicaFlight

On May 22, 1970, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration YV-C-AMK) operated by Linea Aeropostal Venezolana - LAV was involved in an aviation accident near Puntarenas, Costa Rica in flight. 7 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause of the loss of control during the flight remains undetermined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781236286Data APIEditorial standards

A post-maintenance test flight involving seven people ended in a fatal crash into the Gulf of Nicoya.

What happened

During a scheduled test flight following maintenance work, an aircraft departed from San José-Juan Santamaría Airport. The flight was operated by a crew consisting of three pilots and four technicians. While traveling en route, the aircraft experienced a loss of control.

The plane subsequently crashed into the Gulf of Nicoya, specifically in the waters off the coast of Puntarenas. Search efforts located the debris field approximately 1.2 km east of San Lucas Island. The accident resulted in seven fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.

Findings

At this time, the specific reasons why the aircraft became uncontrollable remain unknown.

Probable cause

The cause of the loss of control during the flight remains undetermined.