Background
On a daytime mission, an aircraft departed from Labuan Airport for a maritime patrol flight over the South China Sea. The crew consisted of ten members and one police officer, totaling 11 occupants.
Accident
While cruising at a low altitude over the sea, the airplane struck the water surface and crashed. Several hours later, debris from the aircraft and personal effects of the crew were observed floating on the water, approximately 450 km north of Labuan.
Investigation
Authorities investigated the accident and determined that all 11 occupants were killed. The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the collision with the water.
Probable Cause
The official findings attributed the accident to a wrong optical perception of the water surface by the flying crew, as the water had a crystalline appearance. This led to a wrong perception of the situation and poor judgment of the distance between the airplane and the water surface. It was reported that the captain had not conducted any low-altitude mission for an extended period. Additionally, the copilot lacked experience on this type of aircraft, having just been appointed to the Shackleton from the Short Sunderland.