Taiwan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The approach to Lanyu Islands Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls when the aircraft struck the water surface and crashed in the sea few km offshore. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 off Lanyu: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1992

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

B-11116

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Lanyu - Taitung

MSN:

2007

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Lanyu, while climbing to an altitude of 1,500 feet, the left engine failed. The crew elected to maintain control of the aircraft that banked left, entered a dive and crashed in the sea few km offshore. A pilot and two passengers were rescued while seven other occupants were killed. It is believed that the second engine also failed during the dive according to the survivors.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Boeing 747-2R7F near Wanli: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1991 at 1505 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 747-200

Operator:

Registration:

B-198

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Taipei - Anchorage

MSN:

22390

YOM:

1980

Flight number:

CI358

Location:

Wanli

New Taipei City (新北市)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

45868

Aircraft flight cycles:

9094

Circumstances:

Four minutes after takeoff from Taipei-Chiang Kai Shek Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew contacted ATC and declared an emergency after the engine n°3 separated from the right wing. The crew was instructed first to maintain FL050 and to initiate a left turn but the captain replied this was not possible so he was eventually cleared to turn to the right. Two minutes later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on the slope of Mt Wuzu located near Wanli, about 20 km northeast of Taipei. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five crew members were killed. The accident occurred six minutes after takeoff.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine n°3 detached during initial climb following the rupture of its pylon due to the presence of fatigue cracks. After the engine n°3 detached, it struck the engine n°4 that separated as well. In such conditions, the crew was unable to maintain a safe control of the aircraft. Last A-check maintenance programme was completed last December 21. It was also reported that a misunderstanding occurred between pilots and ATC who misunderstood which engine was lost, thinking that the emergency situation was reporting to a loss of engine n°2.

Crash of a Beechcraft 1900C-1 in Yuanlin: 18 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1990 at 0758 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 1900C

Operator:

Registration:

1905

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Taipei - Chiayi

MSN:

UC-5

YOM:

1988

Location:

Yuanlin

Changhua County (彰化縣)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Taipei to Chiayi, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and moderate to severe turbulences. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a sugar cane field located in Yuanlin, about 60 km northeast of Chiayi Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 18 occupants were killed, among them high ranking officers of the Taiwan Army who were flying to Chiayi to proceed to an inspection of the military installations. At the time of the accident, weather was poor as the typhoon 'Yancy' was passing over Taiwan.

Crash of a Dornier DO228-201 in Lanyu Islands

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1990 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO228

Operator:

Registration:

B-12268

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Taipei - Lanyu

MSN:

8129

YOM:

1987

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful cargo flight from Taipei, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low on approach to Lanyu Airport. On short final, the aircraft struck the ground 15 meters short of runway 13 threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for 150 meters before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who continued the approach at an insufficient altitude (below the glide) until impact with the ground. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as good but the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor crew coordination,
- Poor approach planning,
- No approach briefing according to published procedures,
- The crew failed to take appropriate corrective actions.

Crash of a Boeing 737-209 in Hualien: 54 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1989 at 1855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

B-180

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hualien - Taipei

MSN:

23795

YOM:

1986

Flight number:

CI204

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a night takeoff from runway 03 at Hualien Airport, while climbing, the crew initiated a turn to the left when, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the Chiashan Mountain Range located about 10 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 54 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the collision with the ground was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain after the crew failed to follow the proper departure route and published procedure.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight preparation,
- The crew failed to follow the departure route from runway 03 and initiated a turn to the left, a procedure valid for runway 21 departure onl. After takeoff from runway 03, crew must turn to the right over the sea,
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist,
- Poor visibility due to the night.

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Kaohsiung: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1989 at 0906 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 404 Titan

Operator:

Registration:

B-12206

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Kaohsiung – Wangan

MSN:

404-0418

YOM:

1978

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kaohsiung Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered engine troubles. The airplane stalled and crashed in a residential area near the airport, bursting into flames. A passenger was injured while 12 other occupants were killed as well as one people on the ground.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in Lyudao: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1988

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

B-11125

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Taitung - Lyudao

MSN:

2029

YOM:

1981

Location:

Lyudao (Green Island)

Taitung County (臺東縣)

Country:

Taiwan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach, the pilot encountered limited visibility due to poor weather conditions. The twin engine aircraft struck a hill and crashed few km short of runway. A passenger was seriously injured while 10 other occupants were killed.