Accident de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103 HS-SKI,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 325912
 

Date:Wednesday 21 November 1990
Time:18:15
Type:Silhouette image of generic DH8A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103
Owner/operator:Bangkok Airways
Registration: HS-SKI
MSN: 172
Year of manufacture:1989
Total airframe hrs:3416 hours
Cycles:2998 flights
Engine model:Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120A
Fatalities:Fatalities: 38 / Occupants: 38
Aircraft damage: Destroyed, written off
Category:Accident
Location:5 km SW of Koh Samui Airport (USM) -   Thailand
Phase: Approach
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD)
Destination airport:Koh Samui Airport (USM/VTSM)
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Bangkok Airways Flight 125 left Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport at 09:58 UTC with IFR clearance to Koh Samui Airport at FL210. Samui Tower was contacted at 10:45 and the crew were told runway 17 was the active runway and that the weather was fair with rain southwest of the field. Wind was later reported at 030 deg/10 knots and the runway was changed to runway 35. On base leg for runway 35 the flight continued ahead instead of turning right for finals. A missed approach procedure was executed with flaps still fully extended and both pilots were confused about which way to go. Samui Tower instructed them to turn left because of a mountain on the right side. BKP 125 entered an area of heavy rain and rolled to the left. Both pilots were disoriented as the aircraft continued to descend in a left wing down attitude. The aircraft eventually impacted into a coconut plantation at a 147 knots speed, 36deg nose-down and 75deg left roll.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot experienced spatial disorientation which resulted in improper control of the aircraft. Factors which contributed to accident were as follows: (1) The pilot flew the aircraft into bad weather condition which had very little or no visual reference; (2) Channelized attention occurred when all of the pilots concentration were focused on looking for the airport and neglecting to do proper cross checking or monitoring the aircraft attitude; (3) Confusion of pilots, poor teamwork or poor cockpit co-ordination in monitoring the flight instruments might contribute to loss of situational awareness and improper control of the aircraft through their false senses."

Sources:

ICAO Circular 263-AN/157 (231-245)

Location

Images:


photo (c) via Werner Fischdick; Bangkok-Don Muang International Airport (BKK/VTBD); November 1989

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org