Tanintharyi Region

On 10 June 2013, at 6:55 local time, Myanma Airways MA-60 (XY-AIP) departed from Yangon to Mawlamyine- Kawthaung and back with 4 crews and 27 passengers. During climbing, hydraulic pressure low warning (LEDPL), intermittently illuminated and aircraft returned back to Yangon. After snag rectification, aircraft departed to Mawlamyine at about 10:15 local time. During final approach, while landing gear down hydraulic pressure low warning illuminated and disappeared at aircraft parking. At about 11:10, aircraft departed from Mawlamyine with 4 crews and 60 passengers. During the route Mawlamyine to Kawthaung, no warning light illuminated. While approaching to Kawthaung RW, PIC check hydraulic quantity and flap down to 5°, landing gear down and final turn to runway 02. During final approach, LEDPL warning light was come again. PIC set flaps 15° to 30° respectively, but he noticed flaps position was not fully extended. As soon as aircraft touch down, PIC apply reverse power at about 2,500 ft from runway end. After recognition of aircraft swing, PIC changed power lever to GI position and applied brake and changed nose wheel to taxi mode and steering. Aircraft cannot able to steer and veer off left side of runway at about 3,200 ft. Firstly aircraft stroke two fence pillars with propellers and nose wheel, then aircraft turned 90° to left and stopped after striking to tree with left wing. There was no injury to crews and passengers due to accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While descending to Mergui Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. On short final, the aircraft lost height and struck the ground about 250 metres short of runway 18. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest in a 1,2 metre deep excavation located short of runway threshold. Eight passengers were killed while 16 others were seriously injured.

The approach to Kawthaung Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with rain and a horizontal visibility down to one km. The aircraft approached too high and landed too far down a wet runway that is 1,260 metres long. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran at a speed of 80 knots then ended up in a river bank. All 45 occupants were rescued, among them seven passengers were slightly injured.

The accident took place while the aircraft was approaching to land at Mergui Airstrip on Runway 01 on a schedule Rangoon - Tavoy - Mergui flight with 15 passengers and 3 crew. The port wing of the aircraft hit trees on its final approach and the aircraft landed heavily about 820 feet from the threshold of the runway. On impact with the ground, the starboard engine became detached from the aircraft and the aircraft ran along on its port wheels and starboard propeller approximately 270 feet and finally came to rest about 475 feet from the threshold and approximately 50 feet from the edge of the runway. Fire broke out on the starboard side, possibly due to severed fuel lines and electrical short circuits. The fire consumed the forward portion of the aircraft up to the main rear entrance door. The wings sustained damage but were not consumed by the fire. The crew and passengers were safely evacuated although two of the passengers sustained minor injuries. The fire fighting equipment at the aerodrome was totally inadequate and the local fire brigade with its 400 gallons of plain water could not save the aircraft.

After been reassigned to the 194th Squadron, the crew decided to perform a last overflight of the airbase at Victoria Point (now Kawthaung), south of Burma. During the last low pass, a wing hit the tail of another RAF C-47 parked on the apron and registered KN206. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion, killing all five crewmen. Both aircraft were destroyed.

While landing on soft ground at Kawthaung, the airplane overturned and came to rest upside down. Both occupants escaped uninjured.
Crew:
F/O Appleton,
Cpt Manning.