On January 15, 2006, at 0959 eastern standard time, a Beech D35, N5985C, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with Irazu Volcano in the vicinity of Tierra Blanca, Costa Rica. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight departed from Paitilla-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport, Panama City, Panama, enroute to Tobias Bolanos International Airport, Pavas, Costa Rica, on January 15, 2006, at 0857. The airplane was reported missing on January 15, 2006, and was located by search personnel on January 18, 2006.

The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Costa Rica. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by the Government of Costa Rica. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Direccion General de Aviacion Civil
Miniserio de Obras Publicas y Transporte
Apartado Postal 5026
San Jose
Costa Rica

Telephone; 011-506-290-0664