Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Taipei: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1997
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1310
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taipei - Taipei
MSN:
5067
YOM:
1986
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Taipei-Songshan Airport. On approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. The captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure when control was lost. The aircraft crashed few km short of runway and was destroyed. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-212 in Matsu Nangan: 16 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1997 at 0833 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-12256
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Taipei - Matsu Nangan
MSN:
8220
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
VY7601
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
On final approach to Matsu Nangan Airport, the twin engine aircraft struck the top of the Jade Hill located about one km short of runway and disintegrated on impact. A female passenger was seriously injured while 15 other occupants were killed. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced to six km in rain. It was reported that the crew was initiating a go-around procedure when the aircraft struck the hill. Few hours after the accident, a man in charge to transmit weather conditions to the crew committed suicide at the airport.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker near Kaohsiung: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1996
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2219
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Kaohsiung. All four occupants were killed, two pilots and two officers.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-212 off Matsu Nangan

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1996 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-12257
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Taipei - Matsu Nangan
MSN:
8223
YOM:
1993
Flight number:
VY7613
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach to Matsu Nangan Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility due to fog. The descent was completed under VFR mode in IMC conditions. On final, the copilot who was the pilot-in-command continued the approach despite he did not establish any visual contact with the runway, and failed to monitor the instruments. Eventually, the crew attempted to make a go-around but this decision was taken too late. The aircraft struck the water surface and crashed in the sea about 1,600 metres offshore. Six passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who continued the descent under VFR mode in IMC conditions, below the MDA until the aircraft struck the water surface. Poor supervision on part of the captain. Poor crew coordination and poor approach and landing planning.

Ground accident of a Dornier DO228-201 in Lyudao

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-12208
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lyudao - Taitung
MSN:
8008
YOM:
1983
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing at Lyudao Airport (Green Island), the pilot-in-command lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and came to rest in a ravine. All 19 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-202 in Taitung

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1995 at 1507 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-12288
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lyudao – Taitung
MSN:
8142
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
VY7314
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Lyudao (Green Island), the crew forgot to lower the landing gear while approaching Taitung Airport. The aircraft landed on its belly and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All 19 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The same aircraft suffered another accident in similar circumstances at the same airport on 21 April 1993.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approach checklist and failed to lower the landing gear.

Crash of an ATR72-202 near Taipei: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1995 at 1943 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-22717
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Magong - Taipei
MSN:
435
YOM:
1994
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a positioning flight from Magong to Taipei. While descending to Taipei-Songshan Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with a limited visibility due to heavy rain falls. The minimum descent altitude was fixed at 2,500 feet but for unknown reasons, the crew descended to 1,000 feet when the aircraft struck the slope of a wooded hill located 20 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to adhere to the published approach procedures and continued the descent below MDA until the aircraft struck the ground. Brand new, the aircraft was delivered to TransAsia Airways last December 20 and was equipped with a category II GPWS. It is believed that the GPWS alarm did not sound in the cockpit and was not recorded on the CVR.

Crash of a Learjet 35A off Taitung: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1994
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
B-98181
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
35-675
YOM:
1992
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a military exercise jointly with the Taiwan Navy, carrying four crew members. While cruising over the Taiwan Strait and towing a target, the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from a Taiwan Navy frigate. The aircraft exploded and its debris were found off Taitung. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a surface-to-air missile during a military exercise.

Crash of a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 in Kaohsiung

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1993 at 1159 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-28003
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kaohsiung - Taipei
MSN:
53065
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
FE118
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
152
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Kaohsiung-Hsiao Kang Airport, while climbing to a height of 600 feet, the left engine failed. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to return. On approach, the aircraft was unstable and too high on the glide. It landed too far down the runway, about 4,000 feet past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, collided with a drainage ditch, lost its undercarriage and eventually came to rest against a concrete wall. All 160 occupants were evacuated, among them four passengers were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
The fan cowl on the left engine separated during initial climb.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Lyudao

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
B-12298
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Taitung – Lyudao
MSN:
8151
YOM:
1988
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lyudao Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck the ground few metres short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the right main gear was torn off and the aircraft crash landed and came to rest on the main runway. All 22 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the approach at a too low altitude until the aircraft impacted ground short of runway.