What happened
On the morning of Tuesday, 7 January 1997, a DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration 5W FAU, crashed into the western slopes of Mt Vaea near Apia. The aircraft, operated by Polynesian Airlines, was performing a scheduled service from Pago Pago to Fagali’i. Prior to the impact, the flight had completed an instrument approach to Faleolo.
Following the instrument approach, the crew attempted to continue the flight to the destination using visual references. However, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and low cloud cover. During this phase of flight, the aircraft struck the terrain. The accident resulted in three fatalities, including the pilot and two passengers, while the first officer and one additional passenger survived the impact.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in environments with significantly reduced visibility due to heavy rain and low cloud layers.
- The crew was attempting to navigate via visual reference following an instrument approach procedure.