Accident Summary
On a flight from Buenos Aires to the United States, with stops at Howard Air Force Base and San Salvador, a four-engine aircraft of the Argentinian Air Force met with an accident. The aircraft was carrying 60 cadets and nine crew members, totaling 69 persons on board.
Sequence of Events
After departing from Howard AFB, while overflying the Caribbean Sea along the Costa Rican coast, the captain reported to air traffic control that engine number three was on fire. He elected to divert to the nearest airport. This was the last communication from the crew. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Puerto Limón, Costa Rica.
Aftermath and Investigation
Search operations recovered only a few life vests and debris floating on the water. None of the 69 occupants survived. The official investigation into the accident was unable to determine the exact cause due to lack of evidence.
Probable Cause
As stated in the official findings: "Due to lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident."