Transasia Airlines ATR-72 down in Taiwan

[Benbecula]

Early reports are coming in of a crash involving an ATR-72 operated by Transasia Airlines in Taiwan. The accident happened on PenHu which is part of the Pescadores group of Islands. The aircraft appears to have crashed while attempting to land. The ATR-72 has crashed into residential buildings, resulting in a hull loss and fire. 8 people are currently accounted for, and it appears that 48 passengers and crew have perished.
It is worth noting that a typhoon has passed through the region within the past 12 hours.

[SLF305]

Taiwan Crash

51 dead, 8 injured in Penghu plane crash - Taiwan News Online

[Benbecula]

FWIW, I live in Taiwan and am currently monitoring the news. Very, very inconsistent reporting between news agencies. We may need to wait a while until we can get more information on SOB and confirmed fatalities.

[atrac]

I am in Taiwan as well right now. It is not clear at all what happened, especially if the dead were the passengers or people at land since two houses have been involved. Some news say that some people are missing. We have to wait.

[VictorWatcher]

Also living in Taiwan, reports say 47 dead, 11 hurt, this happened just as a typhoon was leaving the area. A tragedy, early reports say the plane did a go around and then an emergency landing. 54 passengers, 4 crew.
That's a rough translation straight from the local news.

[glendalegoon]

does anyone have the metar for this airport at the time of crash?
anyone have the link to an apch plate for runway in use?

[VictorWatcher]

Might be tricky to get that info as the airport is a domestic one not international + it's a somewhat military sensitive area.
The local weather service indicates a temp of 27C and wind at force 6, 10mm of rain an hour, if that's any help.

[Benbecula]

There don't seem to be any METARS for RCQC published online.

The Transport minister says 47 dead, 11 injured when GE 222 Kaohsiung-Penghu crashes outside Magong airport at approximately 1900hrs.

[aterpster]

Seems to be a good airport with civilian operations.

One runway 02-20, 9,843 feet in length.

Seven IAPS:

ILS Rwy 2

RNAV Rwy 2

RNAV Rwy 20

VOR Rwy 02

VOR Rwy 20

NDB Rwy 02

NDB Rwy 20

[VictorWatcher]

As for the airport itself, Penghu is a set of connected islands, the runway is only just above sea level with approaches to both ends being over the sea. no hills or tall buildings on the approach.

[Benbecula]

Force 6 winds are 25kts thereabout.

The typhoon had already passed, and two aircraft from different companies, 1 using the same type, managed to land without event prior to this accident.

Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau shows very heavy rain at the exact time of the incident.

http://www.cwb.gov.tw/V7e/observe/ra...dex.htm?type=0

[Simplythebeast]

BBC News reporting it as a failed emergency landing.
BBC News - Taiwan TransAsia Airways plane crash 'kills dozens'

[runway08]

ASN Aircraft accident ATR 72-600 (72-212A) B-22817 Magong Airport (MZG)

Aircraft is only 4 months old.

[armchairpilot94116]

That airport is known for high winds even when there is no typhoon passing through.

They should have a stricter standard about landings and take offs when a typhoon is in the area perhaps.

[salivamonster]

ASN got the Reg no. wrong.
According to Transasia press release. The reg no. of the plane should be 810 stead of 817. Serviced for 14 years.

[Sue Ridgepipe]

I don't have the TAF for the time of the crash, but here's the current one:

TAF RCQC 231100Z 2312/2412
20020G30KT 0800 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016
TX29/2406Z TN22/2321Z
BECMG 2312/2315 2400 RA BR SCT004 BKN012 OVC020
TEMPO 2318/2323 4000 RA BR
BECMG 2400/2403 5000 -RA BR SCT012 BKN025

And the METARS for this afternoon:

2014/07/23 12:00:00 UTC
RCQC 231200Z 21013G23KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 24/23 Q0997 NOSIG RMK A2946 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 11:30:00 UTC
RCQC 231130Z 23019G29KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 24/23 Q0998 NOSIG RMK A2948 R20/0800N TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 11:10:00 UTC
RCQC 231110Z 25018G28KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 22/22 Q0998 RMK A2948 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 11:00:00 UTC
RCQC 231100Z 22011G21KT 1600 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 23/22 Q0997 NOSIG RMK A2945 RERA TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 10:40:00 UTC
RCQC 231040Z 19013G24KT 1600 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 22/22 Q0996 RMK A2942 RERA TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 10:30:00 UTC
RCQC 231030Z 20014G24KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 22/22 Q0995 NOSIG RMK A2941 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 10:00:00 UTC
RCQC 231000Z 22017G27KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 23/22 Q0995 NOSIG RMK A2941 R20/0800N TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 09:40:00 UTC
RCQC 230940Z 19021G31KT 800 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 24/22 Q0996 RMK A2942 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 09:30:00 UTC
RCQC 230930Z 19021G31KT 2400 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 26/24 Q0994 NOSIG RMK A2938 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 09:00:00 UTC
RCQC 230900Z 20018G28KT 2400 TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 25/24 Q0994 NOSIG RMK A2937 RERA TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 08:40:00 UTC
RCQC 230840Z 23016G26KT 1600 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 25/24 Q0994 RMK A2937 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 08:30:00 UTC
RCQC 230830Z 23018G31KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 25/24 Q0994 NOSIG RMK A2937 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY=

2014/07/23 08:00:00 UTC
RCQC 230800Z 20018G28KT 800 +TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 26/25 Q0993 RMK A2934 R20/0800N TS OVHD STNRY QFF994.9hPa=

I think there have been thunderstorms around the area for most of the day after the typhoon went through earlier.

[aterpster]

Based on that wind they may have been attempting to land Runway 20. Unless they had RNAV approach capability (LNAV/VNAV minimums) they would have been stuck with either a VOR or NDB approach.

[Benbecula]

Hello Sue,

Do you have a source for that information? I was unable to locate anything online for historical weather information.

[Pangaboi]

According to Avherald they were attempting a landing on R02 cause apparently it's the only RWY with a CAT 1 ILS there, the published metar at the time was
RCQC 231110Z 25018G28KT 800 + TSRA SCT002 BKN006 FEW012CB OVC016 22/22 Q0998 RMK A2948 R20/0800 TS OVHD STNRY =
If we are to go by this then they had atleast 20kts tail.

[Super VC-10]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransA...ays_Flight_222