Summary Pilot error Survivors 0 Registration HS-TBC Operator Thai Airways Company Survivor 0 Crew count 9 | Passengers 74 Aircraft type Boeing 737-2P5 Date 31 August 1987 Fatalities 83 (all) Passenger count 74 | |
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Site Off Ko Phuket, Thailand Similar Skywest Airlines Flight 1834, Thai Airways Flight 231, Northwest Airlink Flight 2268, Varig Flight 797, American Eagle Flight 5452 | ||
Thai Airways Flight 365 was a Thai Airways Company Boeing 737-2P5 with registration number HS-TBC. Flight 365 was on a scheduled flight from Hat Yai International Airport to Phuket International Airport (both in Thailand) on 31 August 1987. On this flight there were a total of 83 people: 74 passengers and 9 crew.
The Boeing 737 was delivered to Thai Airways in 1980 and had no previous adverse incident history.
The meteorological conditions were good as Flight 365 approached Phuket International Airport. As they prepared to land, the flight crew of Flight 365 expressed concern about a Dragonair Boeing 737 that was also landing at the airport but behind and below their aircraft. A lapse in concentration by the flight crew occurred allowing the speed of Flight 365 to fall below the minimum limit. The aircraft stalled and plunged into the water before the flight crew was able to make a recovery. Everyone on board the aircraft was killed.
Investigation
The probable cause for the crash of Flight 365 was determined to be "The pilot slowed the aircraft and it stalled while the pilot prepared to be number one on landing as advised by Phuket approach control. It appears that he was worrying and not sure whether he could make number one landing because the pilot of number two aircraft in sequence gave warning that the number one aircraft ahead was above him and could not descend passing through his level. The pilot added power and raised the gear after stick shaker activated but didn't execute a recovery before hitting the sea." In addition to pilot error, the air traffic controller was blamed for failing to keep Flight 365 and the Dragonair 737 adequately separated.