NTSB Releases Causes Of Plane Crash That Killed Scarsdale Family

SCARSDALE, NY — A 2017 plane crash in Costa Rica that took the lives of a Scarsdale couple and their three sons was likely caused by a number of factors, including the flight crew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed in an area of rising terrain and their decision to continue takeoff that likely exceeded the airplane's ability to climb.

The National Transportation Safety Board's recently released report also said there was inadequate weather reporting for wind determination and the lack of documented training for an airport that required non-standard departures.

The crew also failed to maintain airspeed while trying to leave an area of rising terrain, which resulted in an exceedance of the plane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

The NTSB also said flight crew's decision to continue the takeoff toward a mountain that likely exceeded the airplane's ability to climb contributed to the accident.

Bruce and Irene Steinberg of Scarsdale and their sons Matthew, William and Zachary were among the 12 people, including two Costa Rican crew members, who died in the 2017 New Year's Eve crash.

The NTSB said a Cessna 208B airplane, crashed shorty before noon Dec. 31, 2017, while maneuvering after takeoff from runway 3 at Islita Airport near Corozalito, Costa Rica. Its intended destination was Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José.

The plane, registered to and operated by Nature Air in San José, was destroyed by impact forces and post-impact explosion and fire.

The plane that crashed was the second of a flight of two Cessnas taking hotel guests from the first airport to the second.

The first plane departed Islita using runway 3 and made a right turn after liftoff to the east through a pass in the hills. It continued safely to San José.

The second plane could be seen on ground-based surveillance video climbing north on an approximate runway heading and starting a left turn.

During the turn, the NTSB said, the airplane's bank angle steepened and the airplane descended into terrain.

The plane's flightpath followed a valley with rising terrain on either side. The valley turned left and continued rising until reaching a mountain. When heading in a northerly direction from the airport, there was no exit from the valley.

The airplane hit the terrain on the northwest side of the valley about 0.4 statute miles from the departure end of runway 3.

Reports of a bird strike on the plane when it arrived at Islita were examined. The NTSB said that, due to the localized extent of the damage, the flight characteristics and controllability of the airplane would not have been adversely affected.