What happened
On March 14, 1969, an aircraft was performing an approach to Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base located in Taichung. During this phase of flight, the crew encountered meteorological conditions that were below established weather minima. Despite the lack of visibility and poor weather, the captain elected to proceed with the landing attempt.
As the aircraft progressed toward the runway, it impacted the ground before reaching the threshold. The collision resulted in a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. The accident resulted in nine fatalities among the crew members. While three others survived the initial impact with serious injuries, all three survivors subsequently passed away from their wounds on March 14, 15, and 16, 1969.
Findings
- The flight was conducted in weather conditions that did not meet required visibility standards.
- The decision to continue the approach despite being below weather minima led to the aircraft striking the terrain short of the runway.