Investigation Summary
The aircraft, a Polish-built PZL M28 Skytruck manufactured in 2004, was transporting police personnel between islands in the Riau province. It departed Pangkal Pinang at 09:24 local time and was expected to land in Batam at 10:58. While cruising over the Senayang Sea (part of the Riau Archipelago waters approximately 74 km southeast of Tanjung Pinang), the aircraft experienced a technical malfunction. Local fishermen reported an unusual engine sound followed by visible smoke or fire. The aircraft then plunged nose-first into the sea at approximately 10:22 local time. Search and rescue operations recovered debris and body parts at a depth of 24 to 32 meters, but the lack of onboard recorders meant investigators had to rely on ATC recordings and physical wreckage analysis. The crash was the third involving a PZL M28 in the Indonesian National Police fleet, leading to significant public and governmental pressure to review the airworthiness of the remaining fleet.
Final Conclusions
The investigation focused on a suspected engine failure based on eyewitness accounts of smoke and unusual engine noise. Because the aircraft was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), the exact sequence of the mechanical failure could not be definitively established through telemetry. The National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) examined ATC recordings from Singapore, Jakarta, and Batam. The aircraft was reported to be in airworthy condition prior to departure.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Pilot
Pilot in command; experienced with over 2,000 hours flying time.
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine
The aircraft was powered by two turboprop engines; eyewitness reports of smoke and fire suggest a catastrophic failure of one unit.
Flight Recorders
The aircraft lacked CVR and FDR systems, which significantly hindered the NTSC's ability to determine the exact cause of the nose-dive.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was not equipped with flight recorders (CVR/FDR) as they were not legally mandated for this type.
- 02All 13 occupants were members of the Indonesian National Police.
- 03The aircraft had accumulated approximately 2,500 flying hours since its manufacture in 2004.
- 04This was the third PZL M28 Skytruck lost by the Indonesian National Police.
- 05The crash site was in shallow water, ranging from 23 to 32 meters deep.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Fleet Evaluation
The Indonesian National Police initiated an evaluation of the remaining PZL M28 aircraft in its fleet following the loss of three aircraft of the same type.
Government Aircraft Review
The Indonesian government announced a comprehensive review of all government-operated aircraft airworthiness following this crash and a subsequent C-130 accident.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the official investigation report.