South Korea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training at Jeju-Jungseok Airport. On approach via 'White 2' airway, the captain cancelled his IFR flight plan and continued under VFR when, at an altitude of 2,300 feet, the aircraft struck east side of Mt Hallasan (1,950 meters high). The wreckage was found about 8 km west of the airport at an altitude of about 700 meters. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

For unknown reasons, the crew initiated the approach to Jeju-Jungseok Airport from the west while the standard procedure required an approach from the north. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to low clouds and Mt Hallasan was shrouded in clouds.

Crash of a Grumman S-2E Tracker in Pohang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

133269

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Pohang - Pohang

MSN:

240

YOM:

1957

Location:

Pohang

North Gyeongsang (경상북도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after liftoff, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed near the runway, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed. They were engaged in a local training flight.

Probable cause:

loss of control during initial climb following an engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Fokker F28 Fellowship 4000 in Seoul

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1989 at 0748 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F28 Fellowship

Operator:

Registration:

HL7285

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Seoul - Ulsan

MSN:

11221

YOM:

1985

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at Seoul-Gimpo Airport, the left engine lost power and severe vibrations were encountered. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage, cartwheeled and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 48 occupants were evacuated, among them 21 were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of power on the left engine was the consequence of ice that detached from the left upper wing and went into the engine. This caused the high pressure compressor to stall, followed by vibrations and a loss of directional control.
The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor flight preparation on part of the flying crew,
- The aircraft has not been properly deiced prior to takeoff.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123J Provider near Seongnam AFB: 53 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1982 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Registration:

56-4391

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

20275

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Seongnam AFB, while climbing in haevy rain falls, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a mountains area located 15 km from the airport. All 53 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-123J Provider on Mt Hallasan: 53 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1982 at 1500 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-123 Provider

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Seoul - Jeju

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Jeju Airport on a flight from Seoul, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility, the airplane struck the north face of Mt Hallasan, about 13 km south of the airport. The wreckage was found in a wooded canyon and all 53 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 747-2B5B in Seoul: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1980 at 0725 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 747-200

Operator:

Registration:

HL7445

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Los Angeles – Anchorage – Seoul

MSN:

21773

YOM:

1979

Flight number:

KE015

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

213

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles via Anchorage, the crew started the approach to Seoul-Gimpo Airport in the early morning, just after sunset. On final to runway 14, with a limited visibility of 1,000 meters due to patches of fog, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane landed 90 meters short of runway threshold. Then the aircraft struck a concrete wall, causing all main gears to be torn off or to pushed back in their respective wheel well, except the nose gear which remained intact. The airplane slid on its belly for about 1,200 metres before coming to rest in flames on the left side of the runway. 14 occupants escaped uninjured while 198 others were injured. Unfortunately, eight passengers and six crew members, among them both pilots, were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by a fire that probably ignited in a cargo compartment.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who continued the approach below the glide without any visual contact with the ground until the airplane struck the ground short of runway.

Crash of a Grumman S-2E Tracker in Gimhae: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1977

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

149868

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Gimhae - Gimhae

MSN:

143

YOM:

1957

Location:

Gimhae

South Gyeongsang (경상남도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training flight at Gimhae Airport. On final approach, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed few hundred meters short of runway. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final approach following an engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Grumman S-2 Tracker near Gimhae: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Grumman S-2 Tracker

Operator:

Registration:

133256

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

227

YOM:

1957

Location:

Gimhae

South Gyeongsang (경상남도)

Country:

South Korea

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Struck a mountain near Gimhae while completing a training mission in poor weather conditions. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in South Korea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training mission when the airplane went out of control and crashed on the slope of a mountain located in the south part of South Korea. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The loss of control was the consequence of an engine failure.