Sequence of Events
Flight MH2133, a Fokker 27 mark 050 bearing registration 9M-MGH, was operating a scheduled domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau, Sabah. The departure from Kota Kinabalu was delayed by approximately 30 minutes due to the late arrival of the aircraft, which had been operated by a different flight crew from Labuan. The flight took off from Kota Kinabalu at 0419 hrs on an Instrument Flight Rules flight plan via Airway W 423 direct to Tawau Very Omni Range at flight level 170, with 53 persons on board. The departure was uneventful, and en-route weather was insignificant.
At 0442 hrs, the flight established radio contact with Tawau Tower, reporting its position and maintaining FL 170. The controller passed the weather for Tawau: surface wind calm, visibility more than 10 km, rain north to north east, scattered clouds at 1600 feet and 2700 feet, broken at 14000 feet, temperature 30°C, QNH 1009 mb, runway 17. At 0443 hrs, another aircraft, TSE 809 (a Cessna 206), flying along the same route at 9500 ft, reported its position. The controller then asked MH2133 to report its position, which it did, and requested descent. The controller cleared MH2133 to descend to 10500 feet.
At 0457 hrs, TSE 809 reported being 44 DME from Tawau VOR. MH2133, now 30 DME, requested a lower descent clearance. The controller asked TSE 809 if it had any objection to MH2133 descending through its level and becoming number one; TSE 809 had no objection, but MH2133 was asked to maintain 10500 feet. After further exchanges, at 0459:05 hrs, MH2133 again requested descent, and was cleared to descend to 7000 feet after TSE 809 confirmed no objection. The descent from 10500 feet was initiated at about 21 DME.
Accident
At 0501:15 hrs, while leaving 9000 feet and passing 16 DME, the flight crew advised the controller that they had the airfield visual. MH2133 was cleared for a visual approach to runway 17. At 0502:48 hrs, the flight reported passing 3500 feet. The aircraft was configured for landing with landing gear selected down and flaps set at 25 degrees. The aircraft was high and fast on approach; the commander told the co-pilot, "Runway is long so no problem Eh." On passing 2000 feet on short final, the co-pilot reminded the commander to check speed. The rate of descent exceeded 3000 feet per minute, with a pitch angle around minus 13 degrees. This triggered the Ground Proximity Warning System sink rate and pull-up warnings. The commander ignored these warnings and insisted on continuing the approach.
The aircraft first touched down on the runway at 0505 hrs. The first tyre marks (nose wheel) were approximately 3400 feet from the threshold. The aircraft bounced, and the left main wheel made light contact at 4500 feet. It bounced again, with the main wheels making firm contact at 4800 feet, leaving only 800 feet of runway. The aircraft continued onto the grass verge, momentarily left the ground, and hopped over the runway perimeter fence. It crashed 571 feet from the end of the runway at almost a right angle. There were multiple explosions followed by a fire. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable Cause
The most probable cause of the accident was the commander's insistence on continuing the approach despite the runway available after touchdown being insufficient for the aircraft to stop. A contributing factor was the perception regarding economic considerations, which put pressure on him to save fuel and adhere to schedules.