What happened
During the final approach phase into Taipei-Songshan Airport, a four-engine aircraft encountered extremely hazardous meteorological conditions. The flight was operating amidst active thunderstorms characterized by heavy precipitation and significant low-level windshear.
As the aircraft neared the runway threshold, it was struck by a powerful microburst. This intense downdraft caused the plane to lose altitude rapidly, resulting in a crash several hundred meters before reaching the runway. The impact resulted in 27 fatalities and left 48 individuals injured.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the aircraft's encounter with low-level windshear. This meteorological event led to a critical loss of control during the short final stage of the approach, preventing the crew from maintaining the necessary flight path to land safely.