Singkham

(KPL) The sudden change in weather and the crew's failure to properly execute the published instrument approach and the published missed approach procedure were the causes of ATR 72-600 Aircraft QV 301 accident in Pakse District, Champasack Province on 16 October 2013 according to an official report.

Lao Airlines held a press conference in Vientiane Capital on 28 Dec revealing the results of the investigation into the causes of the plane crash in the southern province.

"The sole objective of the investigation of the accident is to prevent future accidents and incidents, not to apportion blame or liability,"said the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Lattanamany Khounnivong at a press conference.

At that time, there was a local thunderstorm in the vicinity of the aerodrome.The sound of heavy rain striking the aeroplane could be heard on the cockpit voice recorder.The Captain, who had flown the previous flight and arrived at his destination about half an hour before the flight that crashed, took a photograph.

The meteorological conditions during the approach that were described by the air traffic controller were consistent with the picture gathered from the flight data recorder after the accident.The thunderstorm was approaching the airport from the Southwest.

Two of the factors that most likely contributed to the accident were the flight crew’s decision to continue the approach below the published minimum and the limited coordination between the pilot flying and pilot monitoring during the final approach leading to a mismatch of action.

Forty-four passengers and five crew members were killed when the aircraft was destroyed with the main part of the wreckage being immersed in the Mekong River.

KPL