Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Jose
Wednesday, March 22, 2000 18:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On March 22, 2000, at 1815 central standard time, a Cessna 402B twin-engine airplane, N908AB was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Tobias Bolanos International Airport, near San Jose, Costa Rica. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Pitts Aviation, Inc., of Dover, Delaware. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was concluding at the time of the accident. The DGAC inspector reported that the accident occurred when the tower was closed. The inspector added that the pilot failed to report the occurrence to the local aviation authorities; however the damage to the aircraft was found during the inspector's scheduled visit to the maintenance facility performing the major repairs. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica. Any further information may be obtained from: Republica de Costa Rica Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes Direccion General de Aviacion Civil Apartado 5026-1000 San Jose, Costa Rica This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from the DGAC of the Republic of Costa Rica.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SAN JOSE
Event State --
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 0
NTSB Notification Source DGAC OF COSTA RICA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 18 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Aug 21 2001 10:58AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N908AB
NTSB Number FTW00WA136
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier 402B
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 30 OLD RUDNICK LANE
Operator City DOVER
Operator State DE
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 19901
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MRPV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 27 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record JOHB
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --