Investigation Summary
The accident flight was the final leg of a multi-sector charter service (Labuan – Bandar Seri Begawan – Miri). Although the aircraft was owned by Merpati Intan and operated on behalf of Royal Brunei Airlines, it was flying under the Air Operating Permit (AOP) of Hornbill Skyways because Merpati Intan had not yet secured its own permit. During the approach to Miri, the crew requested and was granted clearance for a visual approach to Runway 02. However, the prevailing weather conditions included a ceiling that was lower than the minimum altitude required for such an approach as specified in the Terminal Approach Chart. After declaring they had the airfield in sight, the crew entered a patch of instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and were unable to maintain visual navigation. The aircraft impacted a hill slope at 19:42 local time. The wreckage was not located until the following morning at 07:10. The investigation highlighted a breakdown in operational control, noting that Hornbill Skyways did not sufficiently ensure the qualifications of the pilots, who were not their direct employees.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the crew's decision to execute a visual approach when the reported ceiling was below the approved initial approach level, followed by their inability to navigate visually once they entered IMC. A significant contributory factor was the Air Traffic Controller's decision to clear the aircraft for a visual approach under those weather conditions. The investigation also noted that Hornbill Skyway's operational control was insufficient to verify the qualifications of the crew conducting the charter.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
40-year-old former military pilot Mohammad Tarmizi Muda.
First Officer
29-year-old Wong Lein Yee.
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Approach Procedures
A procedure where an aircraft on an IFR flight plan operates in visual reference to the terrain; in this case, the crew attempted this despite the ceiling being below the approved minimums.
Operational Control (AOP)
The regulatory framework allowing one carrier to operate under another's permit; investigators found Hornbill Skyways' oversight of the Merpati Intan crew was insufficient.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was brand new, manufactured in 1997 with Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 8217.
- 02The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was not recovered from the crash site.
- 03The flight was operated by Merpati Intan using Hornbill Skyways' Air Operating Permit.
- 04The crash occurred approximately 13.7 kilometers south of Miri Airport.
- 05The accident was the sixth aviation accident in Malaysia during 1997.
- 06The victims included six Malaysians (including the crew), two Japanese, one Sri Lankan, and one Singaporean.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Operational Oversight Review
The investigation noted that Hornbill Skyway's operational control was insufficient to ensure that pilots not directly employed by them possessed the necessary qualifications for charter operations.