Thai Airways Flight 365

Last updated

Thai Airways Flight 365
Boeing 737-2P5-Adv, Thai Airways AN0218257.jpg
A Thai Airways Boeing 737-200, similar to the one involved.
Accident
Date31 August 1987
SummaryPilot error along with ATC error
SiteOff Phuket International Airport, Ko Phuket, Thailand
8°7′40″N98°28′16″E / 8.12778°N 98.47111°E / 8.12778; 98.47111 Coordinates: 8°7′40″N98°28′16″E / 8.12778°N 98.47111°E / 8.12778; 98.47111
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 737-2P5
Operator Thai Airways
Call signTHAI AIR 365
Registration HS-TBC
Flight origin Hat Yai International Airport
Destination Phuket International Airport
Occupants83
Passengers74
Crew9
Fatalities83
Survivors0

Thai Airways Flight 365 was a Thai Airways Company Boeing 737-2P5 with the registration number HS-TBC. On 31 August 1987, the plane crashed during a scheduled flight from Hat Yai International Airport to Phuket International Airport (both in Thailand), killing all 83 people on board: 74 passengers and 9 crew. [1] It was the deadliest aviation accident in Thailand at the time, before being surpassed four years later by the crash of Lauda Air Flight 004. [2] Concerned by another aircraft in their vicinity, the crew reduced their approach speed while attempting to land, and failed to recover from an aerodynamic stall. In addition to pilot error, the air traffic controller was blamed for failing to keep Flight 365 and the other aircraft adequately separated.

Contents

Aircraft and crew

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-200 with the aircraft registration number HS-TBC and plant number 22267/685. It was built in 1980 and was delivered to Thai Airways in the same year. The aircraft had no history of malfunctioning. At the time of the crash, the aircraft was seven years and one month old and had 16,963 flying hours. [2]

The captain was 53-year-old Vishanet Ampawat, who had logged a total of 19,538 flight hours, including 5,576 hours on the Boeing 737. [3] The unnamed 37-year-old first officer had 5,951 flight hours. He was far less experienced on the Boeing 737 than captain Ampawat, having logged only 156 hours on it. [4]

Crash

Weather conditions were good as Flight 365 approached Phuket International Airport. As they prepared to land, the flight crew of Flight 365 expressed concern about a Dragonair Boeing 737 that was also landing at the airport but behind and below their aircraft.[ citation needed ]

At 15:34 local time (08:34 UTC), the Dragonair captain told the air traffic controller that he was 24 kilometres (15 mi; 13 nmi) away from the airport at an altitude of 750 metres (2,460 ft) and that the Thai Airways aircraft was about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi; 4.9 nmi) in front of him. Because Dragonair's Boeing 737 was closer to the airport and flew at a lower altitude, it was the first to land. The Dragonair aircraft then turned right for the final approach to Runway 27. A few seconds later, the Thai pilots were given permission to drop to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and instructed to land second. [4]

Immediately thereafter, the approach control was again called by the Thai crew, who stated that the position of the Dragonair flight was incorrect. The Thai pilots also told the air traffic controller that they were only 15 kilometres (9.3 mi; 8.1 nmi) away from the airport, even though their aircraft was further away at that time. The Thai aircraft was then given priority by the air traffic control at 15:36 for landing. [4]

The captain of the Dragonair flight now warned the Thai crew of a possible collision because the Thai Boeing 737 would intercept its flight path. As a result, the Thai Airways crew reduced the aircraft's speed. A lapse in concentration by the flight crew occurred allowing the speed of Flight 365 to fall below the minimum limit. When the speed had dropped to 163 knots (302 km/h; 188 mph), the stick shaker activated. The aircraft slowed down for another ten seconds and then entered a stall a speed of 152 knots (282 km/h; 175 mph). In an attempt to recover from the stall, the captain increased engine power and retracted the landing gear. This failed as the aircraft was now at a low altitude. The plane crashed into the Andaman Sea 15 kilometres (9.3 mi; 8.1 nmi) east of the airport, and sank into a seabed that was 20 metres (66 ft) deep. [4] Everyone on board the aircraft was killed. [5]

Investigation

The probable cause for the crash of Flight 365 was determined to be "The pilot slowed the aircraft and it stalled while the pilot prepared to land first as advised by Phuket approach control. It appears that he was worrying and not sure whether he was able to land first because the pilot of the second aircraft gave warning that the first aircraft was above him and could not descend passing through his level. The pilot added power and raised the gear after the stick shaker activated but couldn’t execute a recovery before hitting the sea." In addition to pilot error, the air traffic controller was blamed for failing to keep Flight 365 and the Dragonair 737 adequately separated. [2] [5]

In the aftermath of the incident, the two air traffic controllers involved in the incident were assigned to other positions. [5]

Related Research Articles

Thai Airways Company or Thai Airways was the domestic flag carrier of Thailand. Its main base was the domestic terminal at Don Mueang International Airport. Its head office was located in Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok. In 1988 Thai Airways merged to become Thai Airways International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faucett Perú Flight 251</span> 1996 aviation accident

Faucett Perú Flight 251 refers to a Boeing 737-200 that was operating a domestic scheduled Lima–Arequipa–Tacna passenger service and crashed on 29 February 1996, while completing the first leg, on approach to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport. All 123 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft lost their lives in the accident. It is the deadliest aviation accident that occurred on Peruvian soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilot error</span> Decision, action or inaction by a pilot of an aircraft

Pilot error generally refers to an accident in which an action or decision made by the pilot was the cause or a contributing factor that led to the accident, but also includes the pilot's failure to make a correct decision or take proper action. Errors are intentional actions that fail to achieve their intended outcomes. Chicago Convention defines accident as "An occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft [...] in which [...] a person is fatally or seriously injured [...] except when the injuries are [...] inflicted by other persons." Hence the definition of the "pilot error" does not include deliberate crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Air Lines Flight 553</span> 1972 aviation accident

United Air Lines Flight 553 was a scheduled flight from Washington National Airport to Omaha, Nebraska, via Chicago Midway International Airport. On December 8, 1972, the Boeing 737-222 serving the flight, City of Lincoln, registration N9031U, crashed during an aborted landing and go around while approaching Midway Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907</span> 2006 mid-air plane collision in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Gol Transportes Aéreos Flight 1907 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Manaus, Brazil, to Brasília and Rio de Janeiro. On 29 September 2006, the Boeing 737-800 operating the flight collided with an Embraer Legacy 600 business jet over the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. The winglet equipped wingtip of the Legacy sliced off about half of the 737's left wing, causing the 737 to break up in midair and crash into an area of dense jungle, killing all 154 passengers and crew. Despite sustaining serious damage to its left wing and tail, the Legacy landed with its seven occupants uninjured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai Airways International Flight 311</span> 1992 aviation accident in Kathmandu

Thai Airways International Flight 311 was a flight from Bangkok, Thailand's Don Mueang International Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport. On Friday, 31 July 1992, an Airbus A310-304 on the route, registration HS-TID, crashed on approach to Kathmandu. At 07:00:26 UTC, the aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain 37 kilometres (23 mi) north of Kathmandu at an altitude of 11,500 ft (3,505 m) and a ground speed of 300 knots, killing all 99 passengers and 14 crew members on board. This was both the first hull loss and the first fatal accident involving the Airbus A310.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai Airways International Flight 261</span> Fatal airliner crash in 1998

Thai Airways International Flight 261 (TG261/THA261) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport to Surat Thani International Airport in Surat Thani, Thailand. The flight was operated by Thai Airways International, the flag carrier of Thailand. On 11 December 1998, the aircraft, an Airbus A310-204 registered in Thailand as HS-TIA, stalled and crashed into a swamp during its landing attempt at Surat Thani Airport. A total of 101 people were killed in the crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southwest Airlines Flight 1455</span> Airliner accident in California

Southwest Airlines Flight 1455 was a scheduled passenger flight from McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, to Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, Burbank, California, that overran the runway during landing on March 5, 2000. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-3T5, registration N668SW, came to rest on a city street adjacent to a gas station. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the incident was due to the pilots attempting to land with excessive speed. They also found that the air traffic controller placed them in a position from which their only option was a go around. Two of the passengers were seriously injured, and there were many minor injuries. As a result of the incident, the airport installed an Engineered Materials Arrestor System (EMAS) at the east end of the incident runway. The aircraft was written off, making the incident the 10th hull loss of a Boeing 737-300. This was the first major accident in the airline's 29-year history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance Air Flight 7412</span> 2000 aviation accident in Patna, Bihar, India

Alliance Air Flight 7412 was a scheduled Indian domestic passenger flight from Calcutta to Delhi, operated by Indian regional airliner Alliance Air. On 17 July 2000, while on approach to its first stopover in Patna, the Boeing 737-2A8 operating the route nose-dived and crashed into a residential area in Patna, killing 60 people including 5 on the ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One-Two-GO Airlines Flight 269</span> 2007 plane crash in Phuket, Thailand

One-Two-GO Airlines Flight 269 (OG269) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Bangkok to Phuket, Thailand. On 16 September 2007, about 15:41 ICT, the McDonnell Douglas MD-82 operating the flight crashed into an embankment beside runway 27 at Phuket International Airport (HKT) bursting into flames upon impact during an attempted go-around after an aborted landing, killing 90 of the 130 persons on board. It is the third deadliest aviation incident to occur in Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thai Airways Flight 231</span> 1980 aviation accident

Thai Airways Flight 231 was a scheduled passenger flight that crashed on 27 April 1980. The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 operating the flight, registration HS-THB, stalled and crashed after entering a thunderstorm on approach to Bangkok. The accident killed 44 out of 53 passengers and crew on board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviateca Flight 901</span> 1995 aviation accident in El Salvador

Aviateca Flight 901 was a Boeing 737-200 that crashed into the 7,159-foot (2,182 m) San Vicente volcano in El Salvador on approach to the airport on 9 August 1995. The accident killed all 65 passengers and crew on board. It was the deadliest aviation disaster to occur in El Salvador.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathay Pacific Flight 780</span> 2010 non-fatal aircraft incident

Cathay Pacific Flight 780 was a flight from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, Indonesia to Hong Kong International Airport on 13 April 2010. On board were 309 passengers and a crew of 13. As Flight 780 neared Hong Kong, the crew were unable to change the thrust output of the engines. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-342, landed at almost twice the speed of a normal landing, suffering minor damage. The 57 passengers who sustained injuries were hurt in the ensuing slide evacuation; one of them received serious injuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhoja Air Flight 213</span> 2012 passenger plane crash near Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Bhoja Air Flight 213 was a domestic scheduled passenger flight operated by Pakistani airline Bhoja Air from Karachi to Islamabad. On 20 April 2012, the Boeing 737-236A aircraft serving the route crashed in bad weather during its final approach to land. All 121 passengers and 6 crew members aboard were killed. With 127 deaths, it remains as the second deadliest air disaster in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria Airways Flight 357</span> 1995 aviation accident

Nigeria Airways Flight 357 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Yola Airport in Yola to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, with stops at Yakubu Gowon Airport in Jos and Kaduna International Airport in Kaduna. On 13 November 1995, the Boeing 737-2F9, during its second leg of the flight from Jos to Kaduna, suffered a runway overrun accident at Kaduna Airport, leading to a fire that destroyed the aircraft. All 14 crew members survived, while 11 of the 124 passengers died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical Airways Flight 1301</span> Domestic short-haul passenger flight crash

Tropical Airways Flight 1301 (TBG1301/M71301) was a domestic short-haul passenger flight, flying from Hugo Chávez International Airport in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti to the commune of Port-de-Paix which crashed onto a sugarcane field less than 10 minutes after take off on the evening of 24 August 2003. The aircraft was a 19-seater Let L-410 Turbolet carrying 19 passengers and 2 crew. Witnesses stated that the aircraft caught fire during take-off and exploded when it hit the ground. All on board were killed.

References

  1. "83 Feared Killed in Thai Air Crash". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1 September 1987. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-2P5 HS-TBC Phuket International Airport (HKT)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network . Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  3. Wedel, Paul (31 August 1987). "A Thai Airways jet carrying 83 people including two Americans". United Press International. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "ICAO Circular 259-AN/153" (PDF). Aircraft Accident Digest. International Civil Aviation Organization (34): 97–118. 1987. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Gero, David (1996). Aviation Disasters Second Edition. Patrick Stephens Limited. p. 202.