Light aircraft crashes in Samarinda

Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda

A light aircraft belonging to Dirgantara Air Services (DAS) on Friday crashed in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, just five days after the Mandala Airlines disaster that killed 149 in Medan.

There were no casualties, but the pilot and his co-pilot suffered serious injuries.

The Britten Norman (BN) 2A-type aircraft crashed into a softball field located in the Segiri sports complex in Samarinda, just 100 meters short of an office building.

A resident's house, just a meter from where the plane crashed, was spared, with the occupants immediately fleeing the location.

The incident took place at 11:15 local time. The plane, on a training session, was piloted by Capt. Estu Rata, 40, from the air force base in Malang, and trainee pilot Waluyo, 38.

Waluyo and Estu were rushed to the Samarinda General Hospital.

An eyewitness, Herman, 31, said the plane was flying at a low altitude over the swimming pool of the sports complex before the incident happened.

The aircraft then ascended and not long after plunged nose- first into the ground. The pilot and co-pilot immediately exited the craft and shouted for help.

"I thought it was just a maneuver. But then it suddenly plunged to the ground. The propeller on the right-hand engine was not functioning properly. However, there was no smoke coming from the engine," he said.

The aircraft, manufactured in 1970, is a common mode of transportation for people living in outlaying areas in the northern part of the province, and was severely damaged in the crash. Its front wheels were broken and the right rear wheel was thrown some seven meters away. Both wings were damaged.

The last accident involving a similar type of eight-seater aircraft took place in Long Bawan, Nunukan, in 2002, killing nine people.

Head of Temindung Airport in Samarinda, Nunung Triatmoko, said at the crash scene that the pilot was still in contact with the tower at about 11:05 before the crash.

The situation of the aircraft was not known after that and the authorities only became aware that the plane had crashed in the sports complex after being informed by residents.

Nunung said that the plane had earlier landed three times during training without encountering any trouble, about three kilometers from the crash scene, because the plane can only be used for training within Samarinda air space. But it crashed on its fourth training flight that day.

"I don't yet know the cause. The victims have not been questioned. We will hand the matter over to the National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT)," he said.

East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna AF said at the crash scene that his office would immediately act to regulate passenger aircraft considered outdated, as they posed a greater risk for accidents.

"We will not allow old planes to carry passengers," he said. There were three planes of the same type parked at the airport.