De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter crash, Dec 16, 2005, Tamarindo
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident on December 16, 2005 near Tamarindo, Guanacaste (North Pacific), Costa Rica with no fatalities. Cause: Loss of...
- Date: December 16, 2005
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Location: Tamarindo, Guanacaste (North Pacific), Costa Rica
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Loss of control on short final after a probable elevator cable failure caused by progressive wear and a damaged pulley, combined with low airspeed, close terrain and the crew's lack of training for this situation.
A NatureAir Twin Otter on scheduled flight 5C330 from San Jose to Tamarindo lost control on short final at about 500 feet and crashed into woodland about 2 km short of the runway. All eight occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The probable cause was a worn elevator cable combined with low airspeed and limited crew training for that situation.