1988-11-10: Beechcraft 80 Queen Air (DQ-FER) — Sunflower Airlines — Matei (Taveuni Island), Fiji Islands

No fatalitiesMatei (Taveuni Island), Fiji IslandsLanding (descent or approach)

A twin-engine aircraft crashed and caught fire after striking a tree while attempting a go-around at Matei Airport.

What happened

During the final approach phase of flight to Matei Airport, the crew of a twin engine aircraft decided to execute a go-around maneuver. During this aborted landing attempt, the aircraft made contact with a tree, which led to a subsequent crash. The impact caused the airframe to burst into flames upon hitting the ground.

Findings

While the specific investigation details regarding the mechanical state of the aircraft were not provided, it is confirmed that all 10 occupants on board sustained injuries during the accident. The sequence of events indicates that the collision with vegetation was the primary event leading to the post-crash fire.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck a tree during an aborted landing attempt.