Narrative:
Air Fiji flight 121 departed Nausori for Nadi at 05:25. At 05:33 the crew contacted Nausori ATC that they were maintaining 6000 feet on the direct track to Nadi. When the crew didn't contact Nadi ATC at 05:35 several attempts were made to get in touch with the aircraft. The aircraft was later found to have crashed on the slope of a ridge. The aircraft had apparently descended below the 5400 feet safety altitude until the right wing struck a tree on a ridgeline at 1300 feet altitude. The Bandeirante then broke up and impacted the slope of a ridge 1,3 km further on. The tail section and right wing were found 150 m from the main wreckage.
Weather at 05:00 was good: nil wind, 40 km visibility, scattered clouds at 2200 feet and an insignificant small shower band.
Investigation revealed a.o. that the captain had insufficient rest prior to the flight and that he had consumed an above-therapeutic level of antihistamine prior to the flight, which would have degraded his ability to safely pilot the aircraft. Also Air Fijis published standard operating procedures were inadequate for the Bandeirante aircraft.
» Scramble 246
accident date: 24-07-1999
type: Embraer 110P1 Bandeirante
registration: N130EM
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Saturday 24 July 1999 |
| Time: | 05:35 |
| Type: |  Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante |
| Operator: | Air Fiji |
| Registration: | DQ-AFN |
| MSN: | 110416 |
| First flight: | 1983 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 13563 |
| Cycles: | 22411 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 15 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 17 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Delailasakau ( Fiji)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Suva-Nausori Airport (SUV/NFSU), Fiji |
| Nadi International Airport (NAN/NFFN), Fiji | |
| Flightnumber: | 121 |
Air Fiji flight 121 departed Nausori for Nadi at 05:25. At 05:33 the crew contacted Nausori ATC that they were maintaining 6000 feet on the direct track to Nadi. When the crew didn't contact Nadi ATC at 05:35 several attempts were made to get in touch with the aircraft. The aircraft was later found to have crashed on the slope of a ridge. The aircraft had apparently descended below the 5400 feet safety altitude until the right wing struck a tree on a ridgeline at 1300 feet altitude. The Bandeirante then broke up and impacted the slope of a ridge 1,3 km further on. The tail section and right wing were found 150 m from the main wreckage.
Weather at 05:00 was good: nil wind, 40 km visibility, scattered clouds at 2200 feet and an insignificant small shower band.
Investigation revealed a.o. that the captain had insufficient rest prior to the flight and that he had consumed an above-therapeutic level of antihistamine prior to the flight, which would have degraded his ability to safely pilot the aircraft. Also Air Fijis published standard operating procedures were inadequate for the Bandeirante aircraft.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Fiji Village News» Scramble 246
Follow-up / safety actions
13 recommedations were issued. These included a recommendation to the CAA Fiji to conduct frequent comprehensive surveillance audits of all
commercial aircraft operators; the development of appropriate recurrent crew resource
management training programs.
commercial aircraft operators; the development of appropriate recurrent crew resource
management training programs.
Photos
accident date: 24-07-1999
type: Embraer 110P1 Bandeirante
registration: N130EM
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Suva-Nausori Airport to Nadi International Airport as the crow flies is 122 km (76 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Suva-Nausori Airport to Nadi International Airport as the crow flies is 122 km (76 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
Fiji
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Embraer EMB-110
- 500 built
- 73rd loss
- 54th fatal accident
- 7th worst accident (at the time)
- 8th worst accident (currently)
Fiji- The worst accident
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