Fatal crash of aircraft during descent near Denpasar

107 fatalities • Denpasar-I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Indonesia • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft flying from Hong Kong-Kai Tak crashed into a mountainside during its approach to Denpasar, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a night flight originating from Hong Kong-Kai Tak, the crew began their descent toward Denpasar's Ngurah Rai Airport under conditions of restricted visibility. While the aircraft was descending toward runway 09 and reached an altitude of 4,000 feet, it began a maneuver to align with a heading of 263 degrees. During this turn, the aircraft type (unspecified) struck the side of Mt Masehe, situated approximately 68 km from the destination airport.

Search efforts located the wreckage several hours after the impact. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the plane and caused the deaths of all 107 occupants.

Findings

Investigations into the accident determined that the crew initiated a right-hand turn toward the 263-degree outbound track prematurely. This maneuver was performed based on data received from only one Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) unit, while the second ADF remained in a steady state, leading to an incorrect navigational assumption.

Probable cause

The crew executed a premature turn based on unreliable navigation information provided by a single functioning ADF unit.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1974-04-22 Boeing 707 accident near Denpasar-I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Indonesia?

An aircraft flying from Hong Kong-Kai Tak crashed into a mountainside during its approach to Denpasar, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 1974-04-22 Boeing 707 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 107 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1974-04-22 involved a Boeing 707, registration N446PA, operated by Pan American World Airways - PAA, at Denpasar-I Gusti Ngurah Rai, Indonesia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew executed a premature turn based on unreliable navigation information provided by a single functioning ADF unit.

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