Region
Asia

Crash of a Short S.6 Sealand near Baliem: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1955 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short SA.6 Sealand
Operator:
Registration:
JZ-PTA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jayapura – Baliem
MSN:
SH.1769
Location:
Baliem
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The amphibian aircraft departed Jayapura-Sentani Airport along the north coast of New Guinea on a VFR flight plan for the Baliem River at 0840LT on a transport flight carrying a load of furniture, foodstuffs and aluminum sheets. At 0922 the Biak area control centre and Sentani aeronautical radio station both received a report from the aircraft that it was over the ldenburg River, course 220 degrees, VFR at 9,000 feet in slight rain, operation normal. When the next position report over the Baliem became overdue, the Sentani aeronautical radio station and the Biak area control centre attempted to contact the aircraft, but to no avail. The aircraft was found after one month of extensive searching, crashed on a 10,335 foot high mountain. The sole occupant, the pilot, did not survive the crash.
Probable cause:
The investigating authority reached the conclusion that the probable cause of the accident was the fact that the pilot was caught in adverse weather conditions during his attempt to reach better visibility conditions by climbing to a higher flight level and during this maneuver collided with a mountain,
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A Constellation off Natuna Besar Island: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1955 at 1625 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-749 Constellation
Operator:
Registration:
VT-DEP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
New Delhi – Hong Kong – Jakarta
MSN:
2666
YOM:
1951
Location:
Natuna Besar Island
Riau Islands
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport bound for Jakarta at 0425 hours Greenwich Mean Time carrying 8 crew members and 11 passengers. The flight was uneventful until approximately five hours after take-off when a muffled explosion was heard in the aircraft while cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet over the sea. Smoke started entering the cabin through the cold air ducts almost immediately and a localized fire was detected soon after on the starboard wing behind the number three engine nacelle. A rapid descent was commenced for ditching the aircraft and distress signals broadcast. In spite of fire fighting action, during which No. 3 engine was feathered, the fire spread very rapidly and caused hydraulic failure followed by electrical failure. During the final stages of the descent, executed under extremely difficult circumstances, dense smoke entered the cockpit reducing the visibility to almost nil. The aircraft impacted the water with the starboard wing tip, and the nose submerged almost instantaneously. Only three crew members survived the accident. The aircraft was destroyed. All passengers were Chinese and European journalists flying to Jakarta to take part to the Asia-Afro Bandung Conference.
Probable cause:
The cause of this accident was an explosion of a timed infernal machine placed in the starboard wheel well of the aircraft. This explosion resulted in the puncturing of No. 3 fuel tank and an uncontrollable fire. It is believed that the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was the target of this act of sabotage. His travel plans had been kept secret and he left China three days later.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL in Jambi

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1954 at 1505 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-DPD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Jakarta – Palembang – Jambi
MSN:
19279
YOM:
1943
Location:
Jambi
Jambi
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Jakarta via Palembang, the crew started the approach to Jambi Airport. After touchdown, the aircraft encountered difficulties to stop and overran. While contacting a soft ground, the airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a muddy field. All 22 occupants were evacuates safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of this accident was poor technique on the part of the captain, in landing the aircraft too far down the slippery runway at an excessive speed. A contributing factor to the accident was an error of judgment on the part of the captain who failed to execute a missed-approach procedure.
Final Report:

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Biak

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
P-213
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1824
YOM:
1944
Location:
Biak
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
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 Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Serui: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
16-82
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
845
Location:
Serui (Yapen Island)
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from the bay of Serui, the seaplane crashed into the sea. Three crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK on Mt Galunggung: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
T-446
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bandung – Tasikmalaya
MSN:
15944/32692
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Galunggung
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a short flight from Bandung to Tasikmalaya, West Java. While starting the descent to Tasikmalaya, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Galunggung (2,240 meters high) located about 18 km northwest of Tasikmalaya. Twelve passengers and all three crew members were killed while 12 other passengers were injured, some of them seriously. It was confirmed by the Indonesian Air Force that one of the pilot was the famous Indonesian aviation Pioneer Captain Anumerta Muhammad Syamsudin Noor. In his honor, the airport of Banjarmasin will be renamed in 1970.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Surabaya: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PK-DPB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19005
YOM:
1943
Location:
Surabaya-Juanda
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After landing at Juanda Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest into a ditch. Both pilots were killed while all other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso B off Muntok: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij - BPM
Registration:
PK-AKC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
22009
YOM:
1943
Location:
Muntok
Bangka-Belitung
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane was involved in a survey flight on behalf of the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij, the Oil Company of Batavia. Following an uneventful mission, the aircraft crashed while landing in the Bay off Muntok and sank. Four crew members and two passengers were killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.
Crew:
Mr. Meyer, pilot,
Mr. Ward, copilot, †
Mr. Kenney, copilot, †
Mr. Geeve, radio operator, †
Mr. Winkelaar, radio operator. †
Passengers:
Mr. De Braber, †
Mr. Brinkgreve, †,
Mr. Fray,
Mr. Happee,
Mr. Van Polanen Petel,
Mr. Reiniers.

Crash of a North American B-25J Mitchell in Kroya: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1949
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
M-409
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Kroya
Central Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Kroya, killing all eight crew members.
Crew (18th Squadron):
George Edward Durand,
Johan Wilhelm Gerharz,
Reinier Emil Jessurun 5.
Thanks to Bert van Willigenburg for his contribution.
Source & photos: http://www.dornierdo24k.nl/

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina IIA in Jambi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
RI-005
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
292
YOM:
1941
Location:
Jambi
Jambi
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was grounded in Jambi for few days following technical problems. Shortly after takeoff from the Batang Hari River in Jambi, the seaplane stalled and crashed into the river and sank. Both crew members were killed. The accident occurred during combat with the Dutch forces.
Crew:
Ralph Richard Cobley, pilot,
John Londa, mechanic.
Source & photos:
http://museumperjuanganrakyatjambi.blogspot.ch/2012/02/ri-005.html
Subscribe to Indonesia