What happened
On November 10, 1971, a Vickers Viscount aircraft operated by Merpati Nusantara Airlines was flying toward its destination when it encountered significant meteorological challenges. The flight crew communicated with air traffic control, indicating that the prevailing bad weather made it impossible to proceed to the intended airport. Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft departed from its planned trajectory and descended into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Padang in West Sumatra, Indonesia.
Investigation
The incident resulted in the total loss of the aircraft and all individuals on board. The crash is recorded as one of the most severe accidents involving the Vickers Viscount type, ranking as the third worst in the model's history. No survivors were reported among the passengers and crew.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the disaster was the inability of the flight crew to navigate through the adverse weather conditions encountered during the approach phase. The decision to continue into the storm likely contributed to the controlled flight into terrain (or water) scenario, resulting in 69 fatalities.