What happened
During an approach to Mergui Airport, the flight crew attempted a landing amidst challenging weather conditions characterized by intense rainfall. While on short final for runway 18, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude and collided with the terrain approximately 250 metres before reaching the runway threshold.
The force of the impact caused the undercarriage to detach from the airframe. Following the collision, the aircraft slid across the ground for several dozen metres before coming to a stop inside a 1.2-metre deep excavation situated near the runway approach.
The accident resulted in eight fatalities and left 16 passengers seriously injured.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew began their descent while maintaining visual reference to the runway. However, once the aircraft reached an altitude of 1,500 feet, the heavy rain caused the crew to lose sight of the landing strip. At the time of the incident, horizontal visibility was measured at approximately 1,500 metres. It is also noted that the aircraft may have encountered windshear during the descent, which contributed to the loss of altitude and the subsequent ground impact.