What happened
During a nighttime approach to Pleiku Airport, an aircraft struck the ground several hundred yards before reaching the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to come to a complete stop, and the airframe was destroyed during the event. At the time of the accident, the crew was performing one of their initial flight rotations at this specific airport.
Findings
- The crash resulted in three fatalities and two injuries among the crew members.
- Environmental factors played a significant role, as visibility was limited by nighttime conditions and marginal weather.
- Poor visibility due to the combination of darkness and weather conditions was a primary factor during the final approach phase.