Incident Overview

Date: Monday 26 July 1993
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-5L9
Owner/operator: Asiana Airlines
Registration Number: HL7229
Location: 7,5 km SW of Mokpo Airport (MPK) – ÿ South Korea
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 68 / Occupants: 116
Component Affected: Aircraft Navigation System (VOR/DME) and Pilot Performance.Aircraft Navigation System (VOR/DME) and Pilot Performance.
Category: Accident
An Asiana Airlines Flight 733 experienced a serious incident at Mokpo Airport due to a series of critical errors by the pilot and co-pilot during a critical approach. The pilot failed to maintain the required approach altitude, resulting in a significant reduction in visibility, and subsequently, a landing that exceeded the airport’s equipment limitations. The pilot’s actions, including continuing the approach in insufficient visibility, failing to maintain altitude, and inadequate coordination, directly contributed to the accident. The lack of communication regarding visibility conditions further exacerbated the situation, leading to a critical error in the approach fix.An Asiana Airlines Flight 733 experienced a serious incident at Mokpo Airport due to a series of critical errors by the pilot and co-pilot during a critical approach. The pilot failed to maintain the required approach altitude, resulting in a significant reduction in visibility, and subsequently, a landing that exceeded the airport’s equipment limitations. The pilot’s actions, including continuing the approach in insufficient visibility, failing to maintain altitude, and inadequate coordination, directly contributed to the accident. The lack of communication regarding visibility conditions further exacerbated the situation, leading to a critical error in the approach fix.

Description

Asiana Airlines Flight 733 departed Seoul-Gimpo Airport, South Korea at 14:37 for a domestic flight to Mokpo. Weather was reported clear, but worsened fast to below minimums, with strong winds and heavy rain. After two missed approaches at Mokpo, the pilot tried a third approach for runway 06. The aircraft struck a ridge of the Mount Ungeo (1050 feet high) at 800 feet altitude. Mokpo Airport was only equipped with VOR/DME. Accident Cause (Conclusion) a. It is determined that the following improper actions by the crew (captain and co-pilot) caused the accident: * The captain continued the approach flight in conditions below the standard visibility. – The visibility standard was 2,800 meters, but at the time of the approach, it was below the criteria for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd approaches. – 1st approach visibility: 2,400 meters (15:14) – 2nd approach visibility: 2,600 meters (27:22) – 3rd approach: Only wind speed communication was reported (39:47) and visibility was already below the standard, so it was not communicated. * The captain did not maintain the approach altitude according to the VOR/DME procedure. – At the final approach fix (4 nautical miles), the altitude should be 1,600 feet but it was not maintained for the 2nd approach. – At the total approach fix for the 3rd approach, the altitude should be maintained at 1,600 feet at 4.6 nautical miles, but it descended to 730 feet. * Both the captain and co-pilot lacked sufficient coordination for the landing at Mokpo Airport. – The captain had only one official landing experience at Mokpo Airport. – The captain had two unsatisfactory results in the company’s proficiency checks and four unsatisfactory results in training landings, with a total of 15 points of criticism in the evaluation records, indicating insufficient experience in instrument flight. – The instruction to confirm with the co-pilot was not properly communicated, making it difficult for the co-pilot to report the altitude accurately. b. The visibility at the 3rd approach fix was below the criteria (2,000 meters) and was not communicated because it was deemed not necessary to report additional information due to the weather conditions. c. The captain continued the approach while the visibility conditions were below the criteria. * During the 2nd approach at Mokpo Airport, all criteria were below standard and the visibility for the 3rd approach was 2,000 meters or less, already below the reporting standard, indicating additional communication was not required due to the weather conditions.

Primary Cause

Insufficient visibility communication and inadequate altitude maintenance during the approach.Insufficient visibility communication and inadequate altitude maintenance during the approach.

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