Air Bagan Flight 11

The Fokker 100 had departed Yangon International Airport in the morning of 25 December on its first leg to Mandalay International Airport. The aircraft was refuelled at Mandalay, and at 08:26 local time departed towards Heho Airport. The first officer was designated as the Pilot Flying for the leg.[4]

On approaching Heho, the air traffic control passed to the crew the local weather conditions as wind calm, visibility 3000 m and "distinct fog." At about 08:47 local time, the crew initiated a non-precision NDB approach procedure to Heho's runway 36.[4]

During the final inbound track, the aircraft descended prematurely, and at about 1.7 km (0.9 nmi) from the runway threshold it struck power lines and trees, before colliding with terrain across a road. In the collision, both wings separated and a fire quickly broke out. An emergency evacuation was carried out. One aircraft occupant and a passing motorcyclist were fatally injured.[4]

The aircraft's flight recorders were sent to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for analysis.[5] Initial statements by the authorities suggested that the pilots mistook a road for the airport's runway in low visibility.[6][7]

However, the final report concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the crew's decision to descend below the approach procedure's minimum descent altitude of 530 ft without having the runway in sight. At that point, the airline's standard operating procedure would have called for an aborted landing to be immediately initiated.[4]

The report cited as contributory factors the captain's inadequate risk assessment in designating the first officer as pilot flying for the approach in the given weather conditions, and an increased pressure on the flight crew to complete the landing due to the presence of other aircraft on approach to Heho at the time. Three safety recommendations were made.[4]

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network