Accident
On 9 July 2021 at approximately 05:00 p.m. local time (23:00 UTC), a Piper PA-32RT-300T aircraft, registration TI-ANV, operated as a private flight, was involved in an accident at Tamarindo Aerodrome (MRTM) in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The aircraft had arrived from Tobías Bolaños International Airport (MRPV) with four occupants (one pilot and three passengers). After landing, two passengers disembarked. The aircraft then began a takeoff from runway 25 with the pilot and one passenger on board. During the takeoff, apparently not achieving the required performance and speed, the pilot aborted the takeoff. The aircraft subsequently lost control and exited the active runway at threshold 07, striking the airport perimeter fence and coming to rest in an adjacent pasture. The right wing separated from the aircraft due to the impact, and a fire ensued.
Aircraft and Flight
The accident aircraft was a Piper PA-32RT-300T, serial number 32R-7987113, powered by a Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD engine (serial L-5962-61A). The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in daylight conditions.
Injuries and Damage
Both occupants on board during the takeoff—the pilot and one passenger—were uninjured. The aircraft sustained major damage: the right wing detached, the airframe was completely burned, and the left wing, propeller, and landing gear were damaged. Additionally, five concrete posts of the Tamarindo Aerodrome perimeter fence near runway 07 threshold were destroyed.
Investigation
The Civil Aviation Technical Council's Air Accident and Incident Investigation Authority (AIA-CETAC) is conducting the investigation. As of the provisional declaration dated 9 July 2022, the investigation is 60% complete. The analysis includes photographic evidence, aircraft manual data, meteorological information, runway conditions, and witness statements. No probable cause has been determined at this stage.