Peach A320 at Okinawa on Apr 28th 2014, descended below minimum safe height

A Peach Aviation Airbus A320-200, registration JA802P performing flight MM-252 from Ishigaki to Okinawa (Japan) with 53 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Okinawa's Naha Airport runway 18 when the aircraft descended prematurely below minimum safe height, the aircraft aborted the approach and went around. The aircraft positioned for another approach and landed safely about 22 minutes after first descending below minimum safe height.

Japan's Ministry of Transport rated the occurrence a serious incident and opened an investigation.

The airline confirmed the aircraft descended below the required approach path during final approach to Naha Airport and stated: "Peach Aviation Limited (Peach) extends its sincere apologies for any inconvenience and anxiety caused to customers onboard and parties concerned." The airline fully cooperates with the Ministry of Transport and Japan's Transportation Safety Board (JTSB) investigation the occurrence. 4 flights needed to be cancelled as result of the occurrence.

Radar data show the aircraft descended to 1000 feet MSL about 21nm before touchdown (Minimum Safe Altitude MSA 3000 feet) and continued at 1000 feet across the intermediate approach fix (IF, MSA 2000 feet). The crew subsequently descended to minimum descent altitude before initiating a go-around.

Map and flight trajectory (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):

Okinawa runway 18 VOR/TACAN Approach Chart (Graphics: AIP Japan):