What happened
During an approach to Karachi International Airport, the flight encountered severe weather characterized by heavy rain and significantly reduced visibility. While on final approach, a mechanical failure occurred involving the left windshield wiper. Due to these deteriorating conditions and the equipment malfunction, the crew mistakenly targeted runway 08 at Faisal Airbase (Drigh Road) instead of the intended runway 07 at Karachi International Airport.
The aircraft subsequently struck the ground short of the runway threshold at the airbase. Despite the impact, all 72 occupants were successfully evacuated from the wreckage without injury. The aircraft type sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified two primary contributing factors. The initial cause was the failure of the left windshield wiper, which hindered the crew's ability to maintain visual references. This mechanical issue led to the secondary factor: a navigational error where the crew confused the runway at the PAF airfield with the correct destination runway. These errors occurred while flying in meteorological conditions that were below the established minimums set by the Pakistan Department of Civil Aviation.