Investigation Summary
The aircraft involved was a civilian version of the C-130 Hercules, designated as the L-100-30, which had been in service since 1982. It was operated by the 31st Squadron of the Indonesian Air Force, having been one of several L-100s transferred from civilian or state-owned entities to bolster military transport capacity. On the morning of the accident, it was performing a routine transport mission from Jakarta. As it prepared to land at Iswahyudi Air Force Base, it crashed approximately 5.5 kilometers northwest of the runway. The aircraft impacted a cluster of homes in Geplak village, causing ground casualties and the total destruction of the airframe. Investigation into the crash was limited by the Indonesian military's policy of not publicly releasing full accident reports. While the event is sometimes categorized as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), this is disputed by multiple witness accounts describing an in-flight break-up or fire.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the aircraft crashed during approach in good weather conditions. While the military did not release a detailed public report, the primary cause is cited as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). Contributing factors mentioned by witnesses included the possible structural failure of a wing or an in-flight fire, though these were never formally confirmed by the Air Force. The aircraft had passed a maintenance inspection only one day prior to the accident.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Allison T56-A-15
The turboprop engines powering the Hercules; survivors reported hearing engine-like noises or failures before impact.
Airframe Structure
Witnesses claimed to see a wing snap off or fire originating from the fuselage before the aircraft hit the ground.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Lockheed L-100-30, a civilian variant of the C-130 Hercules, manufactured in 1982.
- 02The crash resulted in a total of 99 fatalities, consisting of 97 occupants and 2 people on the ground.
- 03Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as clear with good visibility.
- 04Witnesses reported seeing nuts and bolts falling from the aircraft up to 2 kilometers away from the crash site.
- 05The Indonesian Air Force stated that the aircraft had passed a pre-flight inspection the day before the crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Fleet Review
Following the accident, the Indonesian government announced an evaluation of the age and maintenance protocols for all active military transport aircraft.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Transparency of Military Investigations
Reference ↗The Indonesian Air Force stated it would not release the full findings of the crash investigation to the public, citing military standards, which led to criticism regarding safety accountability.