ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300B4-120 OY-KAA Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 18 December 1983
Time:19:38
Type:Silhouette image of generic A30B model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Airbus A300B4-120
Operating for:Malaysian Airlines System - MAS
Leased from:Scandinavian Airlines System - SAS
Registration: OY-KAA
MSN: 122
First flight: 1980-10-07 (3 years 2 months)
Total airframe hrs:3907
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-59A
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 14
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 233
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 247
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:1,2 km (0.8 mls) NNW of Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL) (   Malaysia)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Singapore-Changi International Airport (SIN/WSSS), Singapore
Destination airport:Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL/WMKK), Malaysia
Flightnumber:MH684
Narrative:
Flight MH684 took off from Singapore at 18:53 for a flight to Kuala Lumpur. Approaching Kuala Lumpur, the aircraft was cleared for an ILS runway 15 approach. At 19:20 RVR was 450 m in heavy rain showers. Though below the company minimum of 800 m, the captain elected to continue the approach, hoping to see the runway. The captain took over control from the first officer, shortly before entering an area of heavy rain showers. Immediately after selecting the windscreen wipers 'on', the radio altimeter sounded. Less then 30 seconds later, the Airbus contacted some trees 2 km short of the runway and the right main gear struck the ground and continued for 436 m. The aircraft then lifted off for 36 m before striking a stream embankment and it slid for 109 m before coming to rest, 1200 m short of the runway. The landing gear and both engines were torn off and a fire erupted, destroying the cabin and cockpit roof.

Probable Cause:

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The flight crew's failure to follow procedural requirements coupled with insufficient monitoring during the approach in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and that the approach was continued to below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) without having positive visual references."

Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground

Sources:
» ICAO Circular 196-AN/119 (142-156)
» International Journal of Aviation Safety, Sept. 1985 (218-220)


Photos

photo of Airbus-A300B4-120-OY-KAA
accident date: 18-12-1983
type: Airbus A300B4-120
registration: OY-KAA
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Singapore-Changi International Airport to Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport as the crow flies is 296 km (185 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Airbus A300

  • 561 built
  • 2nd loss
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 Malaysia
  • 27th worst accident (at the time)
  • 40th worst accident (currently)
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