What happened
On 8 July 2015, a DHC6-400, registration 9M-SSD, operated by MASwings, completed a flight from Mukah to Kuching. Following its arrival at Mukah Airfield, the crew received instructions from an airfield attendant to position the aircraft at the northeastern corner of the apron, specifically near the yellow line, to clear the area for an incoming V/VIP flight.
The crew complied with these instructions, and a parking position was established in agreement with the airfield staff. During this period, a second aircraft, registration N639TS, was taxiing toward the apron to disembark VVIP passengers. This aircraft was being guided by its own ground personnel. As the two aircraft were maneuvering, the port wing of N639TS made contact with the starboard side of the nose of 9M-SSD. The collision was witnessed by the MASwings captain from the terminal building, who noted that the N639TS aircraft was positioned to the left of the centerline at the moment of impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the ground movements of both aircraft and the coordination between the MASwings crew and the airfield personnel. Investigators reviewed the instructions provided by the airfield attendant regarding the parking location of 9M-SSD and the taxiing path of the incoming N639TS. The captain's observations from the terminal were also considered to establish the positioning of the aircraft during the contact.