What happened
Six minutes after departing from Taipei-Chiang Kai Shek Airport, an aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent that resulted in a fatal accident. During the initial climb, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, the crew reported an emergency to air traffic control. This emergency was triggered by the separation of the number three engine from the right wing.
Following the engine loss, air traffic controllers initially directed the crew to maintain an altitude of 5,000 feet and perform a left turn. However, the captain informed controllers that executing a left turn was not feasible, leading to a revised instruction to turn toward the right. Two minutes after the initial emergency declaration, the aircraft lost control and struck the slope of Mt Wuzu, located roughly 20 km northeast of Taipei, near the Wanli area. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were five fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
- The primary mechanical failure involved the separation of the number three engine from the right wing during the climb phase.