Date: | Sunday 19 February 1989 |
Time: | 06:36 |
Type: | Boeing 747-249F |
Owner/operator: | Flying Tiger Line |
Registration: | N807FT |
MSN: | 21828/408 |
Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
Total airframe hrs: | 34000 hours |
Cycles: | 9000 flights |
Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7Q |
Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
Aircraft damage: | Destroyed, written off |
Category: | Accident |
Location: | 12 km from Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL) -
Malaysia
|
Phase: | Approach |
Nature: | Cargo |
Departure airport: | Singapore-Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS) |
Destination airport: | Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL/WMKK) |
Confidence Rating: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Narrative:The Boeing, named "Thomas Haywood", was less than half loaded with textiles, computer software and mail when it departed Singapore. Approaching Kuala Lumpur, the crew were cleared to route direct to the Kayell (KL) beacon for a runway 33 approach. While on the NDB approach, the crew were cleared to "...descend two four zero zero..." which was interpreted by the crew as "...to 400...". The aircraft descended below minimum altitude and crashed into a hillside at 600 feet/180 m msl just before reaching the Kayell NDB, where minimum descent height was 2400 feet. The Boeing hit treetops and started to break up until bursting into flames.
PROBABLE CAUSE: Non-standard phraseology was used by Kuala Lumpur ATC, causing the crew to misinterpret the instructions.
Sources:
Aviation Week & Space Technology 27.02.89 (24)
Flight International 17-12 January 1990 (p.44)
ICAO Adrep Summary
Location
Images:
photo (c) Alex Tanner; Hong Kong-Kai Tak International Airport (HKG)
photo (c) via Werner Fischdick; Frankfurt International Airport (FRA); May 1986
Revision history:
Date/time | Contributor | Updates |