What happened
On a scheduled flight from Suva-Nausori Airport to Nadi, an Embraer Bandeirante departed at 05:25 local time. The aircraft was carrying two crew members and 15 passengers. During the initial climb phase, the pilot provided altitude reports, noting 5,500 feet before the aircraft disappeared from radar surveillance at approximately 05:33 local time.
The wreckage was located in a heavily wooded area within the Mataicicia Mountain Range, situated roughly 35.2 km west of Nausori Airport and south of Nasirotu village. The impact occurred at an altitude of 540 meters. The crash resulted in 17 fatalities, leaving no survivors among the passengers or crew.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the aircraft's right wing struck a tall tree at an elevation of 390 meters before the plane traveled another 1,300 meters and crashed. While the weather featured good visibility and scattered clouds, the lack of external visual cues due to darkness and limited ground lighting likely contributed to the accident.
Key findings regarding the flight conditions and crew include:
- The aircraft was operating near its maximum takeoff weight.
- The wreckage was located 3 km south of the planned flight path.
- The pilot had not received sufficient rest before the mission and had taken an excessive amount of antihistamines, which may have impaired operational capabilities.
- Spatial disorientation is considered a likely factor, as the crew may have lost control while relying heavily on instruments in low-visibility conditions.
- The operator's standard operating procedures for this aircraft type were found to be inadequate.
- No mechanical or technical failures were identified in the wreckage.