Small Plane Goes Missing Near Irazú
Rescue workers are fearing the worst following the disappearance of a small airplane in the area of Pacayas de Alvarado, near the Volcan Irazú around the 10am Sunday. The airplane is believed to have had a North American couple as passengers.

The small single engine aircraft with the call letters N5985C was flying over Costa Rica headed for the Marcus Gelabert airport in Paitilla, Panama, leaving the Tobía Bolaños airport in Pavas, San José at 7:59am.

A resident of the San Juan de Chicuá told authorities that he heard the engine of a small aircraft that sounded normal and then followed by an uproar, which leads to believe that the plane could have crashed.

The small Beech D35 Bonanza aircraft had a capacity for four people that included the North American couple identified only by their last names, Randell, which were part of the Fly Farmers am amateur flying group.

According to airport authorities, the group had organized a flying tour for this month and had expected some 20 small airplanes of the group to have landed at Pavas, but due to inclement weather yesterday, the group had to land elsewhere.

According to Cruz Roja (Red Cross) captain Jorge Rovíra, some of the airplanes landed in Bocas del Toro, Panama, one went to El Salvador and some to the Liberia airport in Guanacaste. When the full count is in, Rovíra said the aircraft N5985C is not accounted for.

Conrad W. Randell, from Iowa, is believed to be flying the missing plane, accompanied by his wife. Randell's son, who was flying in another aircraft, is helping authorities to find his parents, which according to the Bolaños airport control tower, was least reported some 27 miles east of the Pavas airport, which places it near the Pacayas de Alvarado, entering Costa Rican airspace from the Caribbean coast.

Rovíra said yesterday that they efforts will be concentrated around the area of the last report by control tower. Assisting the Red Cross are the park rangers of the Volcan Irazú national park and officials of the Aviación Civíl (Civil Aviation).

This is the second accident this year involving a small aircraft. The first occurred on January 10, when a Nature Air airplane crashed in Puerto Jimenez. Luckily the 13 passengers and crew of the Twin Otter survived to tell the tale.