Investigation Summary
The flight was operating a domestic service during monsoon season. After two failed VOR/DME approaches due to low visibility, the pilot attempted a third approach. During this final attempt, the pilot became disoriented as the aircraft's pitch increased significantly while the airspeed decayed. The flight crew failed to monitor the flight instruments effectively, leading to a deep stall from which the aircraft could not recover at low altitude.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause was spatial disorientation and a failure to maintain airspeed during a missed approach/go-around maneuver in adverse weather. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to attempt a third landing despite weather being below minima and the lack of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Surat Thani at the time.
Video Analysis
The Crash of Thai Airways Flight 261 — An analysis of the 1998 crash of an Airbus A310 in Surat Thani, Thailand, focusing on the challenges of landing in monsoon conditions.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR/DME
A ground-based radio navigation system used for the non-precision approach at Surat Thani.
Stall Warning System
The system designed to alert pilots of an impending loss of lift; it activated during the final moments.
Autopilot
The flight was being flown manually during the final approach attempts in turbulent conditions.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was an Airbus A310-300 delivered in 1986.
- 02Visibility at the time of the crash was only 400-800 meters in heavy rain.
- 03Surat Thani Airport lacked an ILS (Instrument Landing System) at the time of the accident.
- 0445 people survived the crash, including 3 crew members.
- 05The captain had over 10,000 flight hours, with 3,000 on the A310.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Infrastructure Upgrades
The Thai Department of Aviation accelerated the installation of ILS systems at regional airports, including Surat Thani.
Approach Limitations
Thai Airways revised its policy to strictly limit the number of landing attempts allowed in adverse weather before diverting to an alternate.