Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL on Mt Burangrang: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1961 at 1048 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-GDI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jakarta – Bandung – Yogjakarta – Surabaya
MSN:
19672
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
GA424
Location:
Mt Burangrang
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Jakarta Airport at 1009LT on a flight to Surabaya with intermediate stop at Bandung and Yogjakarta. The crew continued at 3,500 feet and received the permission to climb to 9,500 feet at 1043LT. At this time, the crew was requested to contact Bandung Tower. Five minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 5,400 feet, the airplane struck the west slope of Mt Burangrang. The wreckage was found four days later and all 21 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The attempt by the pilot to fly over mountainous terrain when unsure of his position and in weather conditions which severely restricted visibility.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1961 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
079
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Biak - Biak
MSN:
16537/33285
YOM:
1945
Location:
Biak
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
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 North American B-25C Mitchell in Jakarta: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1960
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jakarta - Jakarta
Location:
Jakarta
City District of Jakarta
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on an airbase located in Jakarta, killing all four crew members who were completing a local training mission.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Palembang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1959 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-GDV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Palembang – Jakarta
MSN:
13535
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
GA330
Location:
Palembang
South Sumatra
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
About 13 minutes after takeoff from Palembang Airport, the crew reported the failure of the right engine and elected to return for a safe landing. In marginal weather conditions, the captain descended through the clouds with a rate of 300 feet per minute and after passing the last cloud layer, the aircraft banked right and crashed in a swampy area located 5 km short of runway threshold. A pilot was killed while the second crew was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine, a lack of precaution on the part of the captain and marginal weather. A contributing factor may have been the overloaded condition of the aircraft, however, not to such an extent that it forced the aircraft to descend to a dangerously low altitude.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5A Mariner off Fakfak: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
16-302
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sorong - Sorong
Location:
Fakfak
Special Region of West Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Following a maritime patrol flight from Sorong-Jefman Airport, the seaplane crashed into the Patipi Bay while trying to land off Fakfak. Five crew members were killed and three others were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 1B in Jakarta

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1958
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
PK-GHP
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14032
YOM:
1954
Location:
Jakarta
City District of Jakarta
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a mishap at Jakarta Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Merauke: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1957 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Registration:
JZ-PAB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Merauke - Merauke
MSN:
636
YOM:
1954
Location:
Merauke
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on a beach located 30 km northwest of Merauke while completing a coast survey flight. Three occupants were killed and a fourth was injured.

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

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1957 at 1008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer
Operator:
Registration:
JZ-PPX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Biak - Biak
MSN:
509
YOM:
1957
Location:
Yapen Islands
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 Martin PBM-5A Mariner in Merauke: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
16-312
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Merauke
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Merauke-Mopah Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane clip trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. A crew member was rescued while nine others were killed.

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:
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
PH-LKT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Biak – Manila – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Rome – Amsterdam
MSN:
4504
YOM:
1953
Flight number:
KL844
Location:
Biak
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
59
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
58
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:
Subscribe to Indonesia