Amanda Geissler of Wisconsin Killed In Costa Rica Plane Crash

A Wisconsin woman has been identified as one of 10 Americans killed in a charter plane crash Sunday in Costa Rica. California-based travel company Backroads said Amanda Geissler, 33, of Thorp, Wis. was on that plane when it crashed.

According to a FOX 6 report, Geissler was a guide for Backroads, and she was also a was college basketball player at the University of Wisconsin-Stout from 2003 to 2007. "The way you'd best describe her as a player would be scrappy," said Layne Pitt, the school's sports information director told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Everybody on the floor was taller than her, and it didn't matter. She had no fear. She would jump right in the middle of everything."

Geissler's friends posted on Facebook, sharing memories and offering their condolences: “Words cannot express what I have felt since hearing the news this morning about what happened to one of the most incredible people I have had the pleasure of calling my friend, Amanda Geissler,” KJ Jarvis, a friend, wrote in a Facebook post.

The incident occurred after a charter plane crashed into a mountain near Punta Islita Airport, killing everyone on board, as reported by the New York Times. In addition to the Steinberg's, the aircraft was carrying a Florida family of four and a 10th American passenger, as well as two Costa Rican pilots.

"The Government of Costa Rica deeply regrets the death of 10 American passengers and two Costa Rican pilots in the aircraft air crash," Luis Guillermo Solis Rivera, President of Costa Rica, said in a Facebook post Sunday.

Following Geissler's death, her family released a statement:

"Since May, Amanda Geissler was working as a personal vacation travel leader with a company that shared her same passion for adventure. She was able to see many beautiful places across the world in just a few short months. Her last placement was in Costa Rica where she led families during their Christmas holiday on a tropical adventure including seeing an active volcano, 400 foot waterfall, and many beautiful beaches. She was very excited to be working with families, and was eager to enjoy the sunshine, warm weather, and ocean waves.

Amanda is hard to describe in a short paragraph or a simple word or phrase. She was so much more than that. Her passion for life and adventurous spirit allowed her to truly live and experience more in her 33 years of life than many have the opportunity to. Amanda’s love for the outdoors, setting goals and crushing them, and adoration for her family and friends are like non-other. Amanda was one of the most
mentally tough athletes around, and her desire for “what’s next” always turned into a check mark on her list. Amanda lived her life with no regrets and inspired so many others to consider the same. She is loved
by many, and with a heavy heart it will be hard to say goodbye. If Amanda could leave us all with one thing it would be – write down whatever it is you want to do…and make it happen.
--Geissler Family "

Photos credit: Costa Rica's Civil Aviation press office via AP