Runway overrun and residential collision at San Isidro de El General Airport

1 fatality • San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft overran the runway at San Isidro de El General Airport after landing on a wet surface, resulting in a fatal collision with a nearby house.

What happened

During an arrival from San José, the flight crew attempted to land on runway 02 at San Isidro de El General Airport. The runway surface was noted to be extremely wet at the time of the operation. As the aircraft decelerated, it failed to come to a complete stop before the end of the paved surface. The plane overran the runway by approximately 20 feet, exiting the airfield and striking a residential structure.

While all three crew members managed to evacuate the aircraft without injury, the collision with the house resulted in the death of one infant residing in the building.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the primary reason the aircraft could not be stopped within the available runway length was due to ineffective braking performance caused by the saturated state of the runway. This difficulty in deceleration was further complicated by the fact that the aircraft was operating at nearly its maximum landing weight.

Probable cause

The inability to stop the aircraft on a wet runway due to ineffective brakes, exacerbated by high landing weight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1959-08-15 Douglas DC-3 accident near San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica?

An aircraft overran the runway at San Isidro de El General Airport after landing on a wet surface, resulting in a fatal collision with a nearby house.

Were there any fatalities in the 1959-08-15 Douglas DC-3 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1959-08-15 involved a Douglas DC-3, registration TI-1005C, operated by Lineas Aéreas Costarricenses - LACSA, at San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The inability to stop the aircraft on a wet runway due to ineffective brakes, exacerbated by high landing weight.

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