What happened
A flight traveling from Sandakan Airport toward the Federal Territory of Labuan ended in a fatal accident during its final approach. While operating at night, the crew encountered significant visibility issues caused by adverse weather conditions. During the descent phase, the aircraft collided with the slope of Mt Bukit Ibol, situated approximately 12 km east of Lawas, Sarawak.
The wreckage was located the following day, roughly 55 km southeast of Labuan Airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused eight fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the decision by the crew to continue descending below the minimum safe altitude while operating in low-visibility conditions, which ultimately led to the terrain impact.