Special Region of Papua

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biak - Biak

MSN:

16537/33285

YOM:

1945

Location:

Biak

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

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 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver near Merauke: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1957 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

JZ-PAB

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Merauke - Merauke

MSN:

636

YOM:

1954

Location:

Merauke

Country:

Region:

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

JZ-PPX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Biak - Biak

MSN:

509

YOM:

1957

Location:

Yapen Islands

Country:

Region:

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 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:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Location:

Merauke

Country:

Region:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

PH-LKT

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

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

MSN:

4504

YOM:

1953

Flight number:

KL844

Location:

Biak

Country:

Region:

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 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 Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Jayapura – Baliem

MSN:

SH.1769

Location:

Baliem

Country:

Region:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Biak

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

P-213

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1824

YOM:

1944

Location:

Biak

Country:

Region: