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7 May 2011

Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight MZ-8968 , Xian MA-60 registration PK-MZK from Sorong to Kaimana Indonesia with 21 passengers and 4 crew members it was approaching Kaimana airport runway 19 about 800m/2600 feet from runway when airplane impacted the water killing everybody on board

At the time of accident it was fog and visibility 2000m/6500 feet

Before the approach , airplane was holding for about 15 mins waiting for weather to become better

During the approach to Kaimana, the flight crew flew to the south of the airport in an attempt to make a visual approach. The auto-pilot was disengaged at 960 feet pressure altitude. At 376 feet pressure altitude, the crew decided to discontinue the approach and climbed, turning to the left. Engine power was increased and flaps were retracted from 15 to 5 and subsequently to 0 degrees. The landing gear was also retracted. The aircraft rolled to the left with a bank angle of 11° and continuously increased up to 38°. The rate of descend increased significantly up to about 3000 feet per minute and the airplane finally impacted into the shallow sea.

On 7 May 2012 the Indonesia's NTSC released their final report.You can read here

Probable causes:

1. The flight was conducted in VFR in condition that was not suitable for visual approach when the visibility was 2 km. In such a situation a visual approach should not have been attempted.
2. There was no checklist reading and crew briefing.
3. The flight crew had lack of situation awareness when tried to find the runway, and discontinued the approach.
4. The missed approach was initiated at altitude 376 feet pressure altitude (250 feet radio altitude), the pilot open power to 70% and 82% torque followed by flap retracted to 5 and subsequently to 0. The rapid descent was mainly caused by continuously increase of roll angle up to 38 degree to the left and the retraction of flaps from 15 to 0 position.
5. Both crew had low experience/flying time on type.
6. Inadequacy/ineffectivity in the training program may lead to actions that deviated from the standard procedure and regression to the previous type.

PK-MZK

First Flight:2007

Age:4 years

Engines:2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J

crash point