What happened
During a flight traveling from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu, an aircraft carrying the Prime Minister of Sabah and a high-level delegation crashed while attempting to land. As the plane was on its final approach to runway 20, it reached an altitude of approximately 600 feet and a speed of 86 knots when the aircraft experienced a stall. The plane impacted the shallow sea, which was roughly three feet deep, at a distance of about 3 km before reaching the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were 11 fatalities among the occupants, including the pilot and various government officials and staff members present on the flight.
Findings
An investigation into the accident ruled out mechanical failure or intentional sabotage as contributing factors to the crash. Instead, investigators determined that the incident was caused by excessive weight in the rear cargo compartment. The aircraft's storage area had been loaded with goods exceeding the maximum allowable limit. This improper weight distribution led to a loss of control during the landing sequence, ultimately causing the stall and subsequent impact.