Elmina crash: Prelim report ruled out pilot, crew, aircraft quality and weather conditions

SHAH ALAM – Preliminary findings of the Elmina aircraft crash revealed that the pilot, crew, quality of the aircraft and weather conditions were unlikely to be exact main cause of the August 17 aviation tragedy.

According to the report released by Transport Ministry today, the pilot of the Beechcraft Model 390 Premier 1 was licensed and qualified for the flight per existing regulations.

The aircraft – that crashed onto the Guthrie Highway at Bandar Elmina, killing eight onboard and two p-hailing deliverymen on the nearby highway -- also, had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and had been maintained in compliance with the regulations.

The plane was flying from Langkawi to Subang when the accident happened.

“There was no evidence of incapacitation or physiological factors that affected the flight crew performance. The incident happened in the daytime with reported clear visibility and fine meteorological conditions.

“The accident was not survivable due to the magnitude of the deceleration force and the post-crash fire,” read the report published on the ministry’s website.

In terms of causes and contributing factors, the report noted that the initial analysis of the recovered CVR recording had provided critical leads to uncovering the cause of the accident, with a focus on the aircraft flight control systems.

However, nothing conclusive has been discovered for now.

“Results from the pending inspection and examination of the related aircraft parts and components at the NTSB and OEM laboratories are necessary to provide collaborative and/or conclusive evidence in establishing the cause of the accident,” read the report.

It was also pointed out that an initial assessment confirmed that the plane’s cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was damaged to the extent that it was not possible for the recorder to be processed with the existing equipment and capabilities at Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

As such, the AAIB team went to Florida, United States, to enlist the help of its National Transportation Safety Board in regard to matters concerning the retrieved CVR.

The aircraft is owned by Jet Valet Sdn Bhd – a company formed in 2021 which operated three different types of airplanes, the Premier 1 (N28JV), Hawker Beechcraft 4000 (N35JV), and a Gulfstream IV (N729TY).

Jet Valet is a subsidiary of Koperasi Amanah Pelaburan Berhad. The company began as a way to provide “easy travel and additional benefits to the cooperative’s member in the membership programme.”

Among those who perished in the crash was Pahang state executive councillor Datuk Seri Johari Harun.