14JUL2008 at 1230LT

North Ari Atoll

Male - North Ari Atoll

Construction number

445

Year of manufacture

1975

Crew on board

3

Pax on board

14

Crew fatalities

0

Pax fatalities

0

Other fatalities

0

0

On landing near North Ari Atoll, the float equipped aircraft hit a boat with its right float. The aircraft sunk but all 17 occupants escaped uninjured. According to Maldivian Accident Investigation & Coordinating Committee, it appeared that the weather conditions were not good upon arrival : wind 330° at 26 knots, visibility 6 km and rain showers. The aircraft was not able to do a safe go around due to the obstacle (boat); no publication has been issued by Civil Aviation Department (CAD) establishing a safe zone or obstacle free zone for takeoff or rejected landing; the pilot in command (PIC) did not take into consideration the obstacles in the landing area for a missed approach or rejected landing; no operational guidelines by Maldivian Air Taxi (MAT) or a regulation by CAD has been issued on rough water operations of sea plane and no warning or caution signs evident on the floating platform indicating for general public that the area or the platform is for sea plane operational purpose only.