Malaysian Airline System Flight 684


Malaysian Airline System Flight 684 was an international flight from Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore to Subang International Airport, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On 18 December 1983 the Airbus A300 operating the flight crashed 2 km short of the runway at Kuala Lumpur Airport, Malaysia with no fatalities among the 247 passengers and crew.

Accident

Malaysian Airline System Flight 684 departed Singapore Changi Airport in Changi, Singapore on 18 December 1983 at 18:53 local time. As the flight approached Subang International Airport in Subang, Selangor, Malaysia at 19:20 local time, it was cleared for an instrument landing despite poor runway visibility of due to rain. Airline policy required visibility of at least, but the pilot assumed control from the first officer and began his descent. Furthermore, the air crew did not turn on the Instrument Landing System on the aircraft due to increased workload which was exacerbated further due to the different cockpit switch configuration between the A300 owned by Malaysia Airlines & that of the crashed aircraft, which was leased from Scandinavian Airlines System.
The altimeter warning sounded and within 30 seconds the aircraft struck trees short of the runway. The plane slid along the ground for, skipped for, and finally struck a stream embankment where it slid another before coming to rest. The aircraft was still short of the runway and had lost its landing gear and both engines.
All 247 passengers and crew survived, evacuating the aircraft before the fire destroyed it.

Probable cause

The probable cause was ascribed to pilot error in not monitoring descent rate during approach in Instrument Meteorological Conditions and continuing an approach below company minima without sighting the runway.