Investigation Summary
The flight departed Siem Reap at 10:01 local time. During the cruise, the crew encountered deteriorating weather and deviated to the left of the flight track without informing Air Traffic Control (ATC). Although the controller noticed the deviation on radar, no inquiry was made to the crew. As the aircraft approached Sihanoukville, which lacked modern navigational aids like VOR or ILS, the crew requested and received clearance to descend to 2,000 feet. The investigation revealed a significant breakdown in Cockpit Resource Management (CRM): the Captain was an Uzbek citizen who did not speak Khmer, yet the Cambodian co-pilot conducted critical communications with ATC in Khmer. It could not be determined if these communications were translated for the Captain. The aircraft struck trees on a mountain ridge while in a descent, which caused the right wing and stabilizer to separate. These components were found 500 meters away from the main wreckage, which came to rest in an inverted position.
Final Conclusions
The Cambodian Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee concluded in March 2008 that the crash was caused by the crew's decision to continue their descent in adverse weather conditions despite being unsure of their exact position relative to the mountainous terrain. The investigation explicitly cited 'poor management of the company' as a primary causal factor, alongside the crew's unauthorized deviation from the flight route and the use of Khmer language for ATC communications which excluded the non-Khmer speaking Captain from situational awareness. Contributing factors also included the lack of evidence regarding recent proficiency checks or CRM training for the crew.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
56-year-old Uzbekistani citizen, identified as Nikolay Pavlenko.
First Officer
42-year-old Cambodian citizen, identified as Uth Chan Dara. Was the pilot flying at the time of the accident.
Systems & Failure Modes
Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
The device was recovered but failed to provide any data for the accident flight, forcing investigators to rely on radar and ATC recordings.
Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
The aircraft lacked modern terrain awareness systems that might have alerted the crew to the rising terrain during their descent in low visibility.
Interesting Facts
- 01The flight recorders were recovered but declared unusable as they contained no data from the accident flight.
- 02The Captain had over 10,345 total flight hours, with more than 5,000 hours on the Antonov An-24.
- 03The aircraft struck trees with its right wing and stabilizer first, causing it to flip and crash in an inverted position.
- 04The crash site was located in a remote jungle area, requiring thousands of personnel for the search and rescue operation.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airline Suspension
Cambodian authorities suspended all domestic flights of PMTair following the accident; the airline eventually ceased all operations in 2008.
Foreign Carrier Inspections
South Korean aviation authorities initiated safety inspections on PMTair and six other foreign airlines operating in the region.