What happened
On the morning of October 30, 2005, an IKARUS C42B ultra-light vehicle departed from Shanshang Township, Tainan County, at 07:06. The flight lasted approximately 26 minutes before the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area of Meisan Township, Chiayi County, at 07:32. Upon impact, the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed. The crash resulted in two fatalities: one occupant died immediately following the impact and subsequent fire, while the second occupant succumbed to injuries after being in a coma for seven days.
The investigation
Investigators were unable to interview the occupants due to their deaths. However, data retrieved from the aircraft's GPS receiver provided critical insights into the flight path. The GPS records indicated that the aircraft's final recorded speed was 162 km/hr, which was approximately its cruising speed. The tracking data showed the aircraft's heading shifting from north to a right turn of 106 degrees; the final path through the trees at the crash site was oriented toward the southeast. Local witnesses reported that weather conditions at the time of the accident were characterized by fog and poor visibility.
Findings
Analysis of the flight data suggests that the ultra-light vehicle nearly rammed into the mountain while traveling at cruising speed. The investigation identified several regulatory and operational non-compliances, including improper pilot qualifications, lack of required aircraft inspections, and the use of an unapproved takeoff field. Furthermore, the flight path was outside the legal airspace permitted for ultra-light vehicles. The investigation also noted a systemic issue in Taiwan at the time: the lack of legal, approved airfields for ultra-light vehicle operations, which contributed to the prevalence of unauthorized flight activities.
Safety action
To address the lack of legal infrastructure, the investigators recommended that several government bodies—including the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Council of Agriculture—engage in consultations to resolve the shortage of approved airfields. Additionally, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) was advised to assist ultra-light vehicle organizations in securing legal landing sites and to increase supervision to reduce illegal flight operations.