Biak

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Merauke – Biak

MSN:

15865/32613

YOM:

1945

Location:

Mt Puncak Jaya

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Puncak Jaya (4,160 meters high) located in Papua. As the airplane failed to arrive at Biak Airport, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 8 crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1969 on the south slope of the mountain.

Crash of a Lockheed SP-2H Neptune in Biak

Date & Time: May 11, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed P-2 Neptune

Operator:

Registration:

200

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Biak - Biak

MSN:

726-7238

Location:

Country:

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Biak Airport, the crew encountered difficulties and the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK off Biak: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1961 at 2017 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

079

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biak - Biak

MSN:

16537/33285

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was involved in a night training mission and departed Biak-Boroekoe NAS at 1837LT. After practicing approach and landings, the crew had to activate light torches off the coast of Biak. The airplane flew along the coast line at an altitude of 3500-4000 feet. One of these torches activated inside the aircraft and an in-flight fire erupted. The crew attempted to carry out an emergency landing at sea but the airplane crashed. All five crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire caused by a light torche.

Crash of a Scottish Twin Pioneer 1 off Yapen Islands: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1957 at 1008 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

JZ-PPX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biak - Biak

MSN:

509

YOM:

1957

Location:

Yapen Islands

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Biak-Mokmer Airport at 0930LT for a local training flight. After he completed several touch and go, the captain requested the permission to modify the training program to perform other maneuvers. While performing a turn to the right off the Yapen coast, the airplane lost its right wing and crashed into the sea 13 km offshore and sank. The aircraft was lost and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The Commission is of the opinion that, on the ground of the available evidence of the accident with the Twin Pioneer G-AOEO, the accident with the JZ-PPX has to be put down with to certainty nearing probability to the failure of the V-brace strut due to fatigue, because both aeroplanes were equipped with the same type of liftstrut and V-brace construction and because both aeroplanes were used in the same manner. The JZ-PPX carried out many instruction flights at a low altitude, many take-offs and landings, many manoeuvres with high flight loads, possibly up to the maximum loads. The G-AOEO also carried out many demonstration flights at a low altitude with man take-offs and landings, many manoeuvres, also with possibly maximum loads. The term of life of the V-brace as declared by the manufacturer, was based on conditions of flight which are not in agreement with the reality. During a meeting at September 6, 1957, Mr MacCallum of Scottish Aviation Ltd. gave a value of 4000hrs which raised a discussion. The Commission is aware of the fact that he cannot give a positive opinion upon the cause of the accident because there are no silent witnesses present, but nevertheless is of the opinion that there is a close conformity with the accident of the G-AOEO.

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 Super Constellation off Biak: 58 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1957 at 0336 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PH-LKT

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Biak – Manila – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Rome – Amsterdam

MSN:

4504

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

KL844

Location:

Country:

Region:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9396

Captain / Total hours on type:

1835.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3497

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1651

Aircraft flight hours:

11867

Circumstances:

On 16 July at 0332 hours local time (15 July - 1802 hours GMT) the aircraft took off from Mokmer aerodrome on the Island of Biak, on a scheduled transport flight to Manila. It carried nine crew members and fifty-nine passengers. A few minutes after take-off the pilot asked the operator in the control tower to keep the runway lights on. Shortly thereafter he requested permission to make a "low run" over the aerodrome. Both requests were granted, In the meantime, the aircraft had made a turn to the right and a turn to the left and was flying in a westerly direction back towards the aerodrome. During this approach the aircraft lost altitude gradually and at 0336 local time it crashed into the sea one kilometer from the shore. It burst into flames, broke apart and sank immediately. Eleven passengers and one stewardess were rescued.The stewardess and one of the surviving passengers died later in hospital.

Probable cause:

As a result of the foregoing it is concluded that the explanation of the accident lies either in an error on the part of the pilot or in a technical failure. The Board was unable to state whether the accident could have been caused by a combination of both pilot error and technical failure. The Board was of the opinion that low runs should not be made by aircraft on scheduled services. The magnitude of the danger that is inherent in the proximity of the ground on take-off and landing should not be increased unnecessarily by flying at low altitude.

Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Biak

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P-213

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

1824

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the left engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft. On landing, the seaplane struck a reef and sank rapidly. All crew members were able to evacuate safely while the aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU near Boana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-78490

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Biak – Finschhafen

MSN:

22313

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in poor weather conditions at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sarwaged located 22 km north of Boana. The wreckage was found few hours later and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to rain falls.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Mt Puncak Jaya: 29 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A65-61

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pitu – Merauke – Bamaga – Townsville

MSN:

14554/25999

YOM:

1944

Location:

Mt Puncak Jaya

Country:

Region:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in low visibility at an altitude of 14,200 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Carstensz Mountain Range. As it failed to arrive in Townsville, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The missionary Jerry Reeder discovered the wreckage with his Cessna 206 in June 1967. He had rented a vacant house to the DeLong Lumber Company that was doing a hardwood lumber survey in the area. Their superintendent, Mike Cramer, upon hearing about his discovery of a downed aircraft immediately made their Bell Jet-Ranger helicopter available to visit the site. The first attempt had to be aborted due to weather and a partial engine failure. They nearly crashed twice. But the next day they were able to spend two hours on the ground. They gathered three sets of dog tags and the pilot\\\\\\'s chart case which were turned into to the Australian Embassy in Singapore a month later. On December 10, 1970, walkers found the wreckage on the slope of a mountain located near Mt Puncak Jaya, southwest of Mulia, some 100 feet from the summit. It was later decided between Indonesian and Australian authorities to repatriate all remains back to Australia. This exercise was completed from May 23 to June 6, 2005.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
W/O Arthur Jack Hunter, pilot,
W/O Albert Clifford Hughes, copilot,
F/Sgt Kenneth Robert Wiles, wireless operator,
W/O Eric Wilkinson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Allan George Sawrey,
Sgt Francis Leonard Henry Blackmore.
Passengers:
W/O Allan Campbell,
LAC William Royce Dunderdale,
F/O Noel Royce Stibbard,
Sister Marie Eileen Craig,
Pvt Keith John Bowden,
Pvt Laurie Anthony Coombe,
George Phillip Duffy,
Trevor John Eiszele,
Pvt Mervyn John Ford,
Sgt Arthur John Hyde,
Frederick Joseph Ireland,
Lt Alun Morris Jones,
Pvt Arthur Trevor Jorgensen,
James Francis MacDougall,
Ronald Leslie Mathieson,
Jonathan Matthews,
Pvt John McAlorum,
Pvt Ian Scott McDowall,
Pvt Leonard Thomas Oakley,
Pvt Ian Thomas Ray,
Pvt Donald William Smith,
Pvt James Ivan Tindall,
Cpl George John Welch.

Thanks to Jerry Reeder for his testimony.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Biak: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A47-37

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Balikpapan – Biak – Pitu

Location:

Country:

Region: