On July 9, 2018, APEX Flight Academy, flight AFA72, a DA-40NG trainer aircraft, registration number B-88123, took off at 1623 Taipei local time from Taitung Airport to Kaohsiung Airport for a training flight mission with one instructor pilot and 2 student pilots on board.

The flight crew informed the traffic controller that the engine was malfunction at 1702, and then declared emergency and decided ditching on the sea, after that, the aircraft lost radar contact about 11 miles southwest of Kaohsiung Airport.

After receiving the notification, the Aviation Safety Council confirmed the event is an occurrence in accordance with the "Aviation Occurrence Investigation Act". The Investigator-In-Charge and investigation team were assigned to proceed the occurrence investigation.

Further information of the occurrence will be published after the completion of the factual information report.

Sherry Liu, Engineer
Tel: 89127388-330
Email:sherry@asc.gov.tw