Light aircraft crashes in Samarinda<\/p>\n
Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda<\/p>\n
A light aircraft belonging to Dirgantara Air Services (DAS) on
\nFriday crashed in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, just five days
\nafter the Mandala Airlines disaster that killed 149 in Medan.<\/p>\n
There were no casualties, but the pilot and his co-pilot
\nsuffered serious injuries.<\/p>\n
The Britten Norman (BN) 2A-type aircraft crashed into a
\nsoftball field located in the Segiri sports complex in Samarinda,
\njust 100 meters short of an office building.<\/p>\n
A resident's house, just a meter from where the plane crashed,
\nwas spared, with the occupants immediately fleeing the location.<\/p>\n
The incident took place at 11:15 local time. The plane, on a
\ntraining session, was piloted by Capt. Estu Rata, 40, from the
\nair force base in Malang, and trainee pilot Waluyo, 38.<\/p>\n
Waluyo and Estu were rushed to the Samarinda General Hospital.<\/p>\n
An eyewitness, Herman, 31, said the plane was flying at a low
\naltitude over the swimming pool of the sports complex before the
\nincident happened.<\/p>\n
The aircraft then ascended and not long after plunged nose-
\nfirst into the ground. The pilot and co-pilot immediately
\nexited the craft and shouted for help.<\/p>\n
\"I thought it was just a maneuver. But then it suddenly
\nplunged to the ground. The propeller on the right-hand engine was
\nnot functioning properly. However, there was no smoke coming from
\nthe engine,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The aircraft, manufactured in 1970, is a common mode of
\ntransportation for people living in outlaying areas in the
\nnorthern part of the province, and was severely damaged in the
\ncrash. Its front wheels were broken and the right rear wheel was
\nthrown some seven meters away. Both wings were damaged.<\/p>\n
The last accident involving a similar type of eight-seater
\naircraft took place in Long Bawan, Nunukan, in 2002, killing nine
\npeople.<\/p>\n
Head of Temindung Airport in Samarinda, Nunung Triatmoko,
\nsaid at the crash scene that the pilot was still in contact with
\nthe tower at about 11:05 before the crash.<\/p>\n
The situation of the aircraft was not known after that and the
\nauthorities only became aware that the plane had crashed in the
\nsports complex after being informed by residents.<\/p>\n
Nunung said that the plane had earlier landed three times
\nduring training without encountering any trouble, about three
\nkilometers from the crash scene, because the plane can only be
\nused for training within Samarinda air space. But it crashed on
\nits fourth training flight that day.<\/p>\n
\"I don't yet know the cause. The victims have not been
\nquestioned. We will hand the matter over to the National
\nTransportation Safety Commission (KNKT),\" he said.<\/p>\n
East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna AF said at the crash scene
\nthat his office would immediately act to regulate passenger
\naircraft considered outdated, as they posed a greater risk for
\naccidents.<\/p>\n
\"We will not allow old planes to carry passengers,\" he said.
\nThere were three planes of the same type parked at the airport.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/light-aircraft-crashes-in-samarinda-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}