Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Sumatra Island

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1948
Registration:
HS-PC103
Flight Phase:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Sumatra Island apparently after being shot down by the pilot of a Dutch Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Bandar Lampung: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
RI-002
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Yogyakarta – Serang – Bandar Lampung – Bukittinggi
MSN:
20578
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Bandar Lampung-Branti Airport, the aircraft crashed into a mountainous area. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On April 7, 1978, a farmer found the wreckage in a wooded area located on Mt Punggur, about 26 km north of Branti Airport. The aircraft was performing a flight from Yogyakarta to Bukittinggi with intermediate stops in Goda AFB located in Serang and Bandar Lampung.
Crew:
Bobby Freeberg, pilot,
Bambang Saptoadji, copilot,
Mr. Santoso, copilot,
Mr. Sumadi, flight engineer,
Mr. Suryatman, radio operator.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Surabaya

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGEW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Surabaya – London
MSN:
JM665
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after takeoff from the Surabaya Bay, while in initial climb, the seaplane lost a float, lost height and crashed into the sea. All 25 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Consolidated PB2B-1 Canso off Poso

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-CTC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
21995
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from the bay of Poso. All 13 occupants were rescued while the seaplane sank and was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Padalarang: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1948 at 1625 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PK-REA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bandung – Jakarta – Banjoemans – Semarang
MSN:
16380/33128
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
KL947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bandung-Andir Airport, while climbing in stormy weather, the crew informed ground that an engine failed. While trying to return, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion into a wooded ravine located near Padalarang, about 10 km northwest of Bandung Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 19 occupants were killed, among them 11 soldiers and four members of a music ensemble.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Yogyakarta: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1947
Registration:
VT-CLA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Singapore - Yogyakarta
MSN:
15471/26916
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a humanitarian flight from Singapore on behalf of the Indonesian Red Cross with drugs on board. On final approach to Yogyakarta-Maguwo Airport, the Dakota was shot down by the pilots of two NEIAF (Netherlands East Indies Air Force) fighters and crashed in an open field located few km from the airport. All five occupants were killed. Indonesian authorities confirmed that the aircraft was flying under civilian color scheme but did not have any Red Cross painted on its fuselage. So it is most probable that the fighters' pilots mistook the aircraft and thought it was a military plane carrying soldiers. Both pilots were Australian citizens as all three passengers were high ranking Indonesian Army Officers. Still registered in India, the aircraft was offered few days ago to the Indonesian government by Jawaharlal Nehru, future Indian Prime Minister. Following this tragedy, Indonesian Authorities will rename the airport of Yogyakarta that became Adisutjipto instead of Maguwo.
Crew:
A. N. Constantine, pilot,
R. Hazlehurst, copilot,
B. Ram, flight engineer,
A. Q. Wirjokoesoemo, radio navigator.
Passengers:
Agustinus Adisutjipto,
Abdulrahman Saleh,
Adisumarmo Wirjokusumo.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilots of two ML-KNIL (Royal Dutch Indies Air Force) Curtiss P-40 fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 on Mt Burangrang: 26 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1947 at 0930 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VHREZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Batavia - Bandung
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a flight from Batavia to Bandung, carrying 24 passengers and a crew of two. While descending to Bandung Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds and rain falls. In poor visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Burangrang. The wreckage was found 23 days later and all 26 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft drifted off the airway due to strong east winds, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Gilimanuk: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P-204
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea while landing off Gilimanuk, west coast of Bali. A crew member was killed while four others were injured. The seaplane was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota C.4 in Kupang

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
KP230
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16701/33449
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the aircraft hit a pothole, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Wundi Island

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Y-87
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
8397
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While landing off Wundi Island, the seaplane hit a reef and sank. There were no casualties but the aircraft was lost.