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13 fatalities

Hsinchu to Kaohsiung Flight Accident (B-12255)

Hsinchu, TaiwanTakeoff (climb)

On March 18, 1998, a Saab 340 (registration B-12255) operated by Formosa Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Hsinchu, Taiwan during takeoff. 13 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of aircraft control was attributed to the flight crew's failure to maintain situational awareness, the failure of the right-hand main electrical bus, non-compliance with the MEL, night and IMC conditions limiting visual reference, the captain's… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered B-12255
Aircraft registered B-12255. Photo: Stuart Jessup / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A night flight from Hsinchu to Kaohsiung crashed into the sea after the crew lost control due to electrical failures, fatigue, and non-compliance with minimum equipment requirements.

Operational Context and Departure Conditions The accident occurred during a night flight from Hsinchu to Kaohsiung. The captain had been on duty for more than 11 hours and had completed nine flights before this final scheduled departure. Weather conditions were above minimums but in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). During pre-flight checks, the crew identified a failure in the right-hand (RH) main electrical bus. This failure rendered several systems inoperable, including the autopilot, left-hand EFIS, flight directors, left-hand RMI, EFIS comparators, and caused the number 2 engine anti-ice start bleed valve to remain open. The open valve resulted in the right engine's interstage temperature (ITT) being approximately 15°C higher than normal at selected power. Despite the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) prohibiting takeoff with any main bus inoperative, the captain decided to proceed with the flight. The aircraft took off from runway 05 at 19:29:09, cleared for a Chunan One (CN1) departure.

Probable cause

The loss of aircraft control was attributed to the flight crew's failure to maintain situational awareness, the failure of the right-hand main electrical bus, non-compliance with the MEL, night and IMC conditions limiting visual reference, the captain's fatigue and spatial disorientation, and the crew's failure to comply with standard operating procedures.
Loss of control in flight

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