Accident Overview
On approach to Ambon-Pattimura Airport, a four-engine aircraft encountered bad weather conditions with heavy rainfall. At an altitude of 2,300 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Lalaboy, located 14 km southwest of the threshold of runway 04. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact, resulting in the deaths of all 70 occupants.
Circumstances of the Flight
The crew was navigating towards the airport in deteriorating weather, which included heavy rain. The aircraft was at an altitude of 2,300 feet when it collided with the mountainous terrain approximately 14 km from the runway. The impact was catastrophic, causing the aircraft to break apart.
Official Findings
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain. The aircraft impacted the ground while under the control of the crew, who were approaching the airport at an insufficient altitude. Possible contributing factors may have included instrument misreading or malfunction, though this remains a hypothesis in the findings.
Aftermath
The accident site was located on the slope of Mount Lalaboy, a challenging area for recovery operations. All occupants—passengers and crew—were fatally injured. The wreckage was scattered over the impact area, and the investigation focused on analyzing the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, as well as examining the aircraft's systems for any anomalies.
No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, or operator have been released in the source material. The investigation's conclusions are limited to the official probable cause statement, which highlights the insufficient altitude during approach and the possible role of instrumentation issues.