Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou off Labuan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1995 at 1244 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
M21-13
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Labuan - Labuan
MSN:
281
YOM:
1969
Location:
Labuan
Federal Territory of Labuan
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Labuan Airport. Following several touch-and-go manoeuvres, the crew initiated a new approach when one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea few hundred metres offshore. Three crew members were killed and three others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Cessna 402B near Lawas: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1986 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
M27-01
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sandakan – Labuan
MSN:
402B-0893
YOM:
1975
Location:
Lawas
Sarawak
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Sandakan Airport on a flight to Labuan, Federal Territory of Labuan. On approach, the crew encountered poor visibility due to bad weather. While descending by night, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Bukit Ibol located about 12 km east of Lawas, Sarawak. The wreckage was found a day later about 55 km southeast of Labuan Airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew continued the descent below minimum safe altitude in low visibility until the aircraft struck the ground.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N.22B off Kota Kinabalu: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1976 at 1541 LT
Type of aircraft:
GAF Nomad N.22
Operator:
Registration:
9M-ATZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Labuan - Kota Kinabalu
MSN:
14
YOM:
1975
Location:
Kota Kinabalu
Sabah
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, carrying the Prime Minister of Sabah and his delegation. On final approach to runway 20, while at an altitude of 600 feet and a speed of 86 knots, the airplane stalled and crashed into the shallow sea which was about three feet deep, some 3 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 11 occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Ghandi Nathan.
Passengers:
Tun Fuad Stephens, Prime Minister of Sabah,
Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Sabah Minister of Local Government and Housing,
Datuk Salleh Sulong, Sabah Finance Minister,
Chong Thien Vun, Sabah Works and Communication Minister,
Datuk Darius Binion, Assistant Minister to Deputy Chief Minister,
Datuk Wahid Peter Andu, secretary to Sabah Finance Minister,
Dr. Syed Hussin Wafa, Director of State Economic Planning Unit,
Datuk Ishak Atan, Private Secretary to Malaysian Federal Finance Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah,
Johari Stephens (Tun Fuad's eldest son),
Corporal Said Mohammad, bodyguard to Tun Fuad Stephens.
Probable cause:
The findings of an investigating team did not reveal any technical errors or sabotage as being the causes of the air crash. What they have instead discovered is that the fault was due to human error. It was also revealed that the aircraft's storage space at the back of the aircraft, was loaded with goods above the maximum load. As a consequence this had resulted in the aircraft losing control when it attempted to land at the Kota Kinabalu Airport, thus resulting in the accident.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou in Meligan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1967
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
M21-02
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Labuan - Meligan
MSN:
246
YOM:
1966
Location:
Meligan
Sabah
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission from Labuan, the airplane crashed while approaching Meligan Airstrip and came to rest 2 km short of runway. The copilot was killed while eight others occupants were injured.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Labuan

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Valetta
Operator:
Registration:
VW863
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
421
YOM:
1949
Location:
Labuan
Federal Territory of Labuan
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Labuan, the crew was unable to extend the undercarriage so a belly landing was completed. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.1 into the South China Sea: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Avro 696 Shackleton
Operator:
Registration:
VP254
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Labuan - Labuan
YOM:
1950
Location:
South China Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Labuan Airport in the day on a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea, carrying a crew of ten and one police officer. While cruising at low height over the sea, the airplane hit the water surface and crashed. Few hours later, some debris of the airplane and personal effects from the crew were spotted floating on water, about 450 km north of Labuan. All 11 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was caused by a wrong optical perception of the water surface on part of the flying crew as the water had a crystalline appearance. Wrong perception of the situation and poor judgement of the distance between the airplane and the water surface. It was reported that the captain did not conduct any mission at low height since a long time. Also, the lack of experience of the copilot on this type of aircraft was also reported as he was just appointed on Shackleton from Short Sunderland.
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