What happened
On a scheduled international flight from Hong Kong to Taipei, a Boeing 727 operated by Civil Air Transport experienced a fatal accident during the final approach phase. The flight departed Hong Kong at 20:18 local time and proceeded through several navigational waypoints, including Yellowtail and Makung VOR. During the descent, the crew was cleared to descend through various altitudes, eventually targeting a straight-in ILS approach for runway 10 at Taipei.
At approximately 21:18, the aircraft reported approaching the Linkuo outer marker at 2,000 feet. After contacting Taipei Tower, the pilot received landing instructions, including wind information and altimeter settings. Following this exchange, all communication from the aircraft ceased. Shortly thereafter, reports indicated that the plane had crashed near Linkou, roughly 8 miles west of Taipei City. The accident resulted in 22 fatalities, comprising three crew members, 18 passengers, and one individual on the ground. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
The investigation revealed that the person occupying the left-hand pilot seat was not the assigned pilot-in-command, but rather an unauthorized Senior Pilot from Civil Air Transport. This individual, while licensed for the Boeing 727, was neither the designated commander nor a trainee on this specific flight.
It was determined that the pilot failed to maintain the necessary altitude while approaching the Linkuo outer marker, preventing the aircraft from properly intercepting the glide path. As the plane descended to 350 feet, the radio altimeter warning light activated, but no timely corrective measures were taken. The aircraft made contact with the ground and rolled for approximately 200 meters before attempting to climb; however, it struck trees and a farmhouse before crashing. The investigation concluded that careless piloting was the primary cause, noting that the assigned pilot-in-command was also at fault for allowing an unauthorized person to operate the controls.