Mandala Airlines Flight 660
Encyclopedia
Mandala Airlines Flight 660 was a scheduled passenger flight on 24 July 1992 which crashed into a mountain on Ambon Island
as it attempted to land at Pattimura Airport
in a heavy thunderstorm. Pilot error and windshear
were blamed for the crash.
in the United Kingdom and first flew on 8 June 1959. It was delivered new on the 17 June 1959 to Trans Australia Airlines
and named McDouall Stuart
an Australian expolorer. By 1986 it had been bought by Mandala Airlines with the registration PK-RVU and name Nias.
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
as it attempted to land at Pattimura Airport
Pattimura Airport
-Incidents:*On 24 July 1992, Mandala Airlines Flight 660 crashed when on approach to Pattimura Airport. All 70 passengers and crew on board were killed....
in a heavy thunderstorm. Pilot error and windshear
Microburst
A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air, producing damaging divergent and straight-line winds at the surface that are similar to, but distinguishable from, tornadoes, which generally have convergent damage. There are two types of microbursts: wet microbursts and dry microbursts...
were blamed for the crash.
Aircraft
The aircraft was a Vickers Viscount 816 serial number 434, which was built at Hurn AirportBournemouth Airport
Bournemouth Airport is an airport located north-northeast of Bournemouth, in southern England...
in the United Kingdom and first flew on 8 June 1959. It was delivered new on the 17 June 1959 to Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines
Trans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
and named McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this...
an Australian expolorer. By 1986 it had been bought by Mandala Airlines with the registration PK-RVU and name Nias.