A TransAsia Airways ATR 72-200 bulk freighter crashed into the Taiwan Strait in the early hours of 21 December, with two pilots on board. Taiwan Aviation Safety Council managing director Kay Yong has acknowledged that icing is a possible cause, adding that there was heavy rain in the area. He gave the temperature at the aircraft's level as -9¡C (16¡F).
The aircraft took off for Macau from Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek Airport, Taiwan, at 01.05 loaded with a cargo of small packages, says Yong. At 01.51.52 the pilot had requested a descent from a cruising altitude of flight level180 (18,000ft/5,500m) to FL160, but the final return from secondary surveillance radar recorded the aircraft at 4,900ft at 01.52.46, says Yong. After the pilot's acknowledgement of descent clearance, no more transmissions were heard.
The 10-year old aircraft (B-22708) was TransAsia's only ATR 72 freighter. It came down about 28km (15nm) south west of the Penghu islands. Initial efforts to recover wreckage were hampered by bad weather.
Source: Flight International
