Incident
The event began 18 minutes after departure from Bario Airport. The aircraft, while flying at cruising altitude, experienced the failure of both engines. The cause was determined to be fuel exhaustion. The flight crew initiated an emergency landing procedure. During this attempt, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area. The accident site was located 9 kilometers from Long Seridan.
Rescue and Casualties
Emergency responders arrived at the scene and were able to rescue six passengers from the aircraft. Unfortunately, 14 other individuals, which included both pilots, lost their lives in the accident.
Probable Cause
The official investigation into the accident identified the probable cause as a double engine failure in flight resulting from fuel exhaustion. It was determined that the flight crew demonstrated poor flight preparation by not ensuring that the fuel quantity was adequate for the planned flight duration. Furthermore, the lack of surveillance by the responsible authority over the operator's activities was cited as a contributing factor.