Investigation Summary
Flight 724 was a multi-leg scheduled domestic flight that originated in Jakarta and made intermediate stops in Surabaya, Ujung Pandang (now Makassar), and Ambon before its final leg to Sorong. During the final leg from Ambon to Sorong, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions including heavy rain, strong winds, and thick black clouds. Air traffic controllers at Jefman Airport advised the crew to abort the landing and divert to Biak Airport due to the weather, but the pilot elected to continue the approach. During the descent, the aircraft became misaligned, turning toward the sea rather than the runway. According to survivor accounts, the aircraft was flying at an extremely low altitude, with some recalling the distance between the ground and the aircraft was less than one meter, before the crew attempted a sudden emergency climb. While the nose cleared the terrain, the rear of the fuselage and the left landing gear struck the summit of a small hill. The aircraft then spun, overran the airport perimeter, and crashed into the sea, breaking into three main sections.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded the accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) caused by pilot error. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to continue the approach into known inclement weather despite warnings from air traffic control, and spatial disorientation that led to an improper approach path and insufficient altitude. The aircraft struck a hill 3,000 feet short of the runway while the crew was attempting to recover from a low-altitude excursion.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
NDB (Non-Directional Beacon)
The primary navigation aid used for the approach to runway 22 at Jefman Airport.
Landing Gear
The left main gear was torn off during the initial impact with the hill summit.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Fokker F28 Fellowship 3000 that first flew in April 1978 (MSN 11131).
- 02While 41 fatalities were ultimately recorded, several people initially survived the impact; some later succumbed to their injuries, including a man who died after rescuing a young boy from the water.
- 03Local fishermen were the first to arrive at the crash site and performed initial rescues.
- 04The aircraft struck a promontory or hill located approximately 0.9 km (3,000 feet) northeast of the runway.
- 05The weather at the time included heavy rain, strong winds, and thick black clouds.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Weather Diversion Protocols
The accident highlighted the critical importance of adhering to Air Traffic Control recommendations for diversions during inclement weather, particularly at airports with limited navigational aids like Jefman's NDB approach.