What happened
On 17 August 2023, a Hawker Beechcraft 390 Premier 1, registration N28JV, was performing a flight from Langkawi International Airport to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang. While maneuvering for arrival at approximately 1449 LT, the aircraft impacted the ground at Persiandum Elmina, Shah Alam. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. The accident resulted in 10 fatalities, including eight occupants of the aircraft and two bystanders on the ground. The crash also destroyed a car and a motorcycle near the impact site.
The investigation
AAIB Malaysia examined the wreckage, flight recorder data, and crew information. Investigators recovered the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) but noted the absence of a Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The investigation reviewed the crew's qualifications, noting that while the pilot-in-command held the appropriate single-pilot rating for the Hawker Beechcraft 390 Premier 1, the second-in-command was not rated on this specific aircraft type and had no formal training on its systems. Furthermore, the crew was seated in a configuration that deviated from the manufacturer's requirements for single-pilot operations, with the pilot-in-command in the right-hand seat.
Findings
- The accident was primarily caused by the inadvertent extension of the lift dump spoilers during the execution of the before-landing checklist.
- This deployment caused a sudden and significant loss of lift, leading to an uncontrollable descent.
- The second-in-command's lack of specific training or familiarity with the systems of the Hawker Beechcraft 390 Premier 1 contributed to the error.
- There was no evidence in the CVR recordings that the pilot-in-command had provided a specific briefing regarding the hazards of the lift dump system operation.