Missing HM Aerospace (HMA) Diamond Star DA-40 training aircraft found, one pilot found alive, the other was dead

THE ILL-FATED HMA TRAINING AIRCRAFT
Diamond Star DA 40 TDI Reg. No. 9M-HMT
Which Crashed on 21st August 2008

The wreckage of the crashed DA-40 TDI (TV grabs from TV7 Malaysia)

(Click on photos for a larger image)

(Photos thanks to: http://machawacha.blogspot.com/)

Search and Rescue workers this morning, Thursday 21^st August 2006, at last found the two pilots, aged 20 & 21 who went missing shortly after their aircraft took off from the Sultan Mahmud, Kuala Terengganu airport, reportedly en route to Langkawi International airport at about 16:43 on Wednesday.

The pilots were flying a single engined Diamond Star DA40 TDI aircraft said to be on a training flight from Kuala Terengganu to Langkawi International Airport.

The aircraft (Call sign 'MAHA 443', registration number 9M-HMT) belongs to HM Aerospace Flying School, which is based in Langkawi Kedah.

I understand that it is usual for such cross-country training flights from Kuala Terengganu and Lagkawi and vice versa, to be operated with one instructor and one trainee pilot.

However news reports state that both were trainee pilots, and it is also doubtful that a qualified flying instructor could be 20 or 21 years of age, so perhaps they were not en route to Langkawi?

One pilot was very fortunate to be found alive while the other had already died due to serious injuries.

The two pilots were named by NSTP as Mohd Farid Abdullah, of Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, Selangor and Muhammad Ariff Ahmad Fuad, of Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Department of Civil Aviation director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the plane went missing within the Tepoh and Batu Rakit jungle.

This is the latest in a series of crashes of aircraft belonging to HM Aerospace Flying School.

In addition, there have been several crashes of training aircraft from flying schools, based in Ipoh and Kota Bahru.

My earlier post:

“Is Aircraft Maintenance in Malaysia Sub-standard?”

click HERE , refers to a similar subject.

This question needs to be asked once again, and the Department of Civil Aviation, Malaysia needs to answer it comprehensively.

Is aircraft maintenance in Malaysia sub-standard?

Cadit quaestio

- The question drops

De nihilo nihil

- Nothing comes from nothing