MASwings Flight 3002

On 10 October 2013 MASwings Flight 3002, a scheduled domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat, Malaysia, crashed on landing at its destination airport. The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operating the flight was carrying 16 people, of which two were killed and four injured. It was the first fatal accident for MASwings.^[1]

MASwings Flight 3002

Flight 3002 after the accident
Accident
Date	10 October 2013 (2013-10-10)
Summary	Crashed during an attempted go-around due to incorrect flap configuration caused by pilot error
Site	Kudat Airport, Kudat, Malaysia 6°55′26.8″N 116°50′5.8″E
Aircraft
9M-MDM, the aircraft involved 1 day before the accident
Aircraft type	de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 310
Operator	MASwings
IATA flight No.	MH3002
ICAO flight No.	MWG3002
Call sign	MASWINGS 3002
Registration	9M-MDM
Flight origin	Kota Kinabalu International Airport, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Destination	Kudat Airport, Kudat, Malaysia
Occupants	16
Passengers	14
Crew	2
Fatalities	2
Injuries	4
Survivors	14

Background

Aircraft

The accident aircraft was a 30-year-old de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Series 310, registration 9M‑MDM. It was delivered to Malaysia Airlines on 14 July 1983, via Reykjavík, Iceland, and entered service with MASwings in October 2007.^[2][3] The flight crew consisted of:

Crew

Captain Wan Mohd Abd Amir Wan Yahya, an experienced pilot with MASwings.

First Officer Marc Joel Bansh, a 22-year-old co-pilot, died from his injuries sustained in the crash.^[4][5][6]

Accident

Flight 3002 departed from Kota Kinabalu at approximately 14:50 local time for the short flight to Kudat. At 15:30, while on final approach to Kudat Airport, the aircraft descended below the normal glide path and impacted a house in the village of Kampung Sin San, located just short of the runway. The aircraft broke apart and came to rest partially on the house and surrounding grounds.^[7]

Emergency responders arrived shortly after the crash. Most of the 16 occupants survived, though two were fatally injured: the 22-year-old co-pilot and one elderly passenger. Four other passengers were injured, two seriously.^[3]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Series 310, registered as 9M-MDM. It was operated by MASwings, a regional subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, and was commonly used on short takeoff and landing (STOL) routes within Sabah and Sarawak.^[3]

Investigation

The Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), along with MASwings and other relevant authorities, launched an investigation into the crash. Initial findings suggested that the aircraft was too low on final approach and struck obstacles short of the runway. Weather conditions at the time were reported to be normal.^[7]

According to a preliminary report, pilot error in judgment during the final approach phase was identified as a contributing factor. The final investigation report has not been widely published.^[3]

Aftermath

Following the crash, MASwings temporarily grounded its Twin Otter fleet pending safety checks. The accident raised concerns about safety at remote airfields in Malaysia’s rural interior, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak. Condolences were expressed by government officials, including the Minister of Transport.^[1]

See also

Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133