[1][2] Among the findings contained in the final investigation report was that the crew continued the approach in adverse weather conditions beyond the point at which the approved procedure would have required to abort the landing.

Flight data showed that the aircraft continued to descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA), which is 142 metres (466 ft) above ground level (AGL).

Flight data showed that the pilots attempted to perform a go-around at approximately 6 metres (20 ft) AGL, but contacted the water surface moments later.

[3] In January 2017, Budi Waseso, the chief of Indonesia's national narcotics agency, alleged that the pilot of Lion Air Flight 904 was under the influence of drugs at the time of the accident, and had hallucinated that the sea was part of the runway.

That claim directly contradicted the statement made after the accident by Indonesia's transport ministry, which said the pilots had not tested positive for drugs.

Analysis of the pitch angle versus engine power based on the flight data recorder,[3] indicated that the basic principle of jet aircraft flying was not adhered during manual flying.The flight crew lost situational awareness and visual references as the aircraft entered a rain cloud during the final approach below minimum descent altitude.