Pilot In Kapar Crash Was Under Influence Of Alcohol Says Report

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The wreckage of the Blackshape Gabriél BK 160TR aircraft which crashed in Kapar, Selangor, on Feb 13 last year. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: The pilot of a light aircraft that crashed in Kapar, Selangor, last year, was found to have been under the influence of alcohol that exceeded the legal limit, according to the final report by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“The presence of alcohol, combined with the pilot’s aggressive flying style, may have contributed to the failure to recognise the aircraft’s structural distress in time, further exacerbating the situation,” it said in the 185-page report sighted by FMT.
However, the report concluded that prolonged overloading was likely the primary cause behind the crash of the aircraft.
The AAIB report said the distribution of debris around the crash site indicated that large structural parts separated from the aircraft while in flight before it crashed into the ground in the oil palm plantation.
It said alcohol consumption could impair cognitive and motor functions, affecting judgment, reaction times and overall performance.
“It is likely that the pilot’s ability to assess the situation accurately and respond appropriately during the critical moments of flight was compromised,” it added.
During the investigation, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were found near the pilot’s storage locker at the Air Adventure Flying Club (AAFC), but witness statements could not confirm their ownership.
The crash occurred on Feb 13 last year, when the Blackshape Gabriél BK 160TR (registered I-POOC), operated by Aviation Safety Technology Pte Ltd, Singapore, took off from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, and was heading west towards Kapar.
The aircraft subsequently crashed. The 30-year-old pilot and his 42-year-old trainee were killed.
The report said the pilot had a history of performing aggressive manoeuvres that exceeded operational limits, adding that the pilot’s flying style and decisions during the flight likely contributed to excessive loading on the aircraft’s structure.
It also noted the pilot did not possess an aerobatic licence from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
Cumulative structural degradation
The AAIB said the aircraft was flying above its maximum take-off weight at the time of the crash, and that the aircraft had a history of exceeding this limit, which likely contributed to increased structural fatigue.
Of the 55 flights conducted after the aircraft’s delivery in 2022, about 30 exceeded this limit.
As a result, the board said the aircraft’s composite materials were likely weakened by prolonged exposure to excessive operational loads, as well as modifications such as the installation of uncertified tie-down rings.
“Evidence of delamination and micro-cracking in the composite materials suggests cumulative structural degradation,” it said.
The report noted that uncertified maintenance activities were performed on the aircraft by non-qualified personnel using uncertified parts, particularly tie-down ring components, which compromised its structural integrity.
In its recommendations, the AAIB urged CAAM to implement stricter measures for monitoring non-scheduled flight operations, particularly those involving foreign-registered aircraft and foreign-licensed pilots.
“These measures should include more stringent vetting and conducting ramp inspections of foreign aircraft operations to ensure regulatory compliance and maintain safe operations as well as strengthen its oversight of approved training organisations through regular audits, inspections, and closer monitoring of operational and maintenance practices,” it said. - FMT

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