Crash of an ATR72-212A in Koh Samui: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 2009 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
ATR72-200
Operator:
Registration:
HS-PGL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Krabi – Koh Samui
MSN:
670
YOM:
2001
Location:
Koh Samui
Surat Thani (สุราษฎร์ธานี)
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
68
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Krabi, the crew started the approach to Koh Samui Airport. Conditions at destination were marginal with stormy weather, winds and turbulences. Upon landing on runway 35, the aircraft bounced then landed a second time. It deviated from the centerline to the left, veered off runway, rolled through a grassy area and eventually collided with the concrete structure of the airport tower. The captain was killed and the copilot was seriously injured as the cockpit area was destroyed upon impact. 26 other people were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland Dash-8-103 in Koh Samui: 38 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1990 at 1815 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash-8)
Operator:
Registration:
HS-SKI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bangkok - Koh Samui
MSN:
172
YOM:
1989
Flight number:
PG125
Location:
Koh Samui
Surat Thani (สุราษฎร์ธานี)
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Captain / Total flying hours:
14764
Captain / Total hours on type:
521.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
674
Copilot / Total hours on type:
235
Aircraft flight hours:
3416
Aircraft flight cycles:
2998
Circumstances:
On final approach to Koh Samui Airport runway 35, the aircraft entered an area of heavy rain falls. As the crew was unable to locate the runway, the captain decided to initiate a go-around procedure. With flaps fully extended, the crew increased power and started to gain height when the aircraft rolled to the left to an angle of 75° then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed at a speed of 147 knots about 5 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 38 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation which resulted in an improper control of the aircraft. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot continued the approach in bad weather conditions with limited or no visual reference with the ground.
- Both pilots attention was focused on trying to locate the runway, neglecting the standard cross checks and mutual checks on approach and failing to monitor the aircraft attitude.
- Poor crew coordination,
- Lack of teamwork,
- Poor flight monitoring that contributed to the loss of situational awareness and improper control of the aircraft.
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