Investigation Summary
The accident occurred at approximately 15:00 local time during a routine military transport mission. The aircraft, a stretched version of the Hercules (C-130H-30), was carrying 122 passengers and 12 crew members. Shortly after departing Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport, the number three engine (located on the right wing) caught fire. The resulting damage is believed to have affected the wing mechanisms or high-lift devices, significantly degrading the aircraft's controllability. While the crew was cleared for an emergency return to the airfield, the aircraft entered a stall at a low altitude. The subsequent impact with the Department of Labor building resulted in a massive explosion and fire. Rescue efforts were significantly hindered by heavy rain that began shortly after the crash. One pilot, Major Samsul Ilham, was initially pulled from the wreckage alive but succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later that day. A single passenger, Bambang Sumadi, survived the disaster, which remained the deadliest aviation accident in Indonesian history until 1997.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was a loss of control following an engine fire during the initial climb phase. Specifically, the fire in engine number three led to a loss of control and a subsequent stall. The exact reason for the initial engine fire was not determined.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine No. 3
The engine that reportedly caught fire shortly after takeoff, initiating the emergency.
Wing Mechanism / High-lift devices
Presumed to have been damaged by the engine fire, leading to the loss of control and subsequent stall.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash was the deadliest aviation disaster in Indonesia at the time of the occurrence.
- 02The aircraft was a Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules, a stretched variant of the standard C-130.
- 03There was only one survivor among the 134 people on board the aircraft.
- 04The passengers were primarily members of the Paskhas (Orange Berets) special forces unit.
- 05The accident occurred on Indonesian Armed Forces Day.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Maintenance and Inspection Review
Source ↗Following the crash, the Indonesian Air Force conducted a review of maintenance and inspection procedures for its C-130 fleet after findings indicated deficiencies contributed to the engine failure.