What happened
During an arrival from Seoul-Gimpo, the crew attempted to land at Mokpo Airport amidst challenging meteorological conditions characterized by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and low cloud cover. The flight crew initiated two separate missed approaches after being unable to maintain visual contact with the runway environment.
While performing a third landing attempt using VOR/DME navigation, the aircraft descended below the necessary altitude for safe clearance. This resulted in the aircraft striking a forested slope on Mt Ungeo, approximately 7.5 km before reaching the threshold of runway 06. The accident resulted in 68 fatalities, including the two crew members and 66 passengers, while 48 injuries were reported among the other occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary reason for the accident was the decision to proceed with the approach despite weather conditions falling below established minimums. This led to a controlled flight into terrain. Several contributing elements were identified, including inadequate monitoring by the crew, an incorrect approach configuration, and the combination of limited visibility and adverse weather.