Investigation Summary
The flight was operating a scheduled domestic service from Bangkok to the resort island of Koh Samui. Upon arrival, the crew encountered severe weather conditions including heavy rain and high winds. The first attempt to land on Runway 17 was unsuccessful, leading the crew to initiate a missed approach. During the subsequent maneuvering to line up for a second attempt, the pilots likely suffered from spatial disorientation due to the lack of visual cues and the stress of the weather conditions. The aircraft entered a steep descent and impacted the ground approximately 5 kilometers southwest of the airport.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause was pilot error during a missed approach in adverse weather. The crew failed to maintain proper situational awareness and aircraft control while maneuvering at low altitude in heavy rain, resulting in the aircraft striking the ground in a nose-down attitude.
Video Analysis
Bangkok Airways Flight 125 Aftermath Footage | 21 November 1990 — Archival footage showing the crash site and recovery efforts following the loss of the Bangkok Airways Dash 8 near Koh Samui.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Spatial Orientation
The crew's ability to perceive the aircraft's position and motion relative to the earth was compromised by heavy rain and darkness.
Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)
The flight transitioned from visual flying to instrument conditions, requiring strict adherence to cockpit procedures which were not maintained.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident was the first hull loss of a de Havilland Canada Dash 8.
- 02All 33 passengers and 5 crew members perished in the crash.
- 03The weather at the time included heavy rain and wind gusts up to 30 knots.
- 04The aircraft was only two years old at the time of the accident.
- 05Koh Samui Airport was a relatively new private facility, having opened only a year prior in 1989.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Enhanced Weather Monitoring
Recommendations were made to improve real-time weather reporting and wind shear detection at regional airports like Koh Samui.
CRM Training
Emphasis was placed on Crew Resource Management (CRM) to ensure better coordination during high-stress missed approach procedures in adverse weather.