2009 Indonesian Air Force L-100 crash

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2009 Indonesian Air Force L-100 crash
The accident scene
Accident
Date20 May 2009 (2009-05-20)
SummaryHit houses on approach
SiteMagetan, East Java, Indonesia
7°39′S 111°22′E / 7.650°S 111.367°E / -7.650; 111.367
Total fatalities99
Total survivors15
Aircraft
Aircraft typeLockheed L-100-30(P) Hercules
Operator Indonesian Air Force
RegistrationA-1325
Flight originJakarta-Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport (HLP/WIHH)
DestinationIswahyudi Air Force Base (WARI), Indonesia
Passengers98
Crew14
Fatalities97
Survivors15
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities2

On 20 May 2009, an Indonesian Air Force Lockheed L-100-30(P) Hercules carrying 112 people (98 passengers and 14 crew) crashed at about 6:30 local time (23:30 UTC), while flying from Jakarta to eastern Java.[1] The crash resulted in 99 deaths, 2 of which occurred on impact when the aircraft struck at least four houses before skidding into a rice paddy in the village of Geplak.[2][3] and at least 70 others were taken to a local hospital.[4] This is considered among the worst air disasters in Indonesian history[5] and was the first Air Force crash since the 1991 Jakarta Indonesian Air Force C-130 crash, which also involved a Hercules.[6]

Geplak is located in Java
Geplak
Geplak
Location of crash

The airplane, a civilian Lockheed L-100-30(P) version of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, registration A-1325[7] had been on a normal flight transporting military personnel and their families to Iswahyudi Air Force Base.[8] The plane prepared to land on base but instead crashed about 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) northwest of the north end of the runway,[9] bursting into flames upon impact. Flying conditions were good and the weather was clear at the time of the crash.[10] [6][9] Air control communicated with the crew minutes before the crash and indicated no issues.[11][9] 11 of the 15 survivors were treated at Dr. Soedono Hospital and 4 at the base's hospital.[8] All deceased were identified by the evening of May 22.[12]

The Indonesian Air Force said it was unlikely that the cause of the plane crash would be shared publicly, a practice said to be a military standard around the world.[13] The plane had passed inspection the day before the crash.[11] Witnesses variously claimed seeing fire inside the plane; hearing two explosions; nuts and bolts falling to the ground up to 2km away from the crash site; and a wing snapping off the aircraft.[14][9][11] A survivor said that "it felt like the plane's engines just stopped and then the aircraft began to break apart in mid-air."[9] Others speculate that the Hercules series is poorly designed but the Air Force is too underfunded to afford safer planes or spare parts for aircraft they do have.[14][9][11][15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ McDonald, Mark (2009-05-20). "Crash in Indonesia Kills Dozens". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  2. ^ "Indonesia says 98 killed in military plane crash". Reuters. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  3. ^ "Indonesia plane crash kills 78: air force". Agence France-Presse. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  4. ^ "Indonesia military plane crashes, 57 reported dead". Agence France-Presse. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  5. ^ Waldron, Greg (2015-06-30). "20Indonesia loses fourth Hercules since 2000". Flight Global. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  6. ^ a b "Hercules Jatuh di Magetan, Tragedi Terburuk Setelah 18 Tahun" (in Indonesian). Detik. 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  7. ^ "Crash: Indonesia C130 at Geplak on May 20th 2009, impacted rice field and houses". The Aviation Herald. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 2015-10-10. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  8. ^ a b "Korban selamat kecelakaan Hercules 15 Orang" (in Indonesian). Antara News. 2009. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Indonesia air crash kills scores". BBC. BBC. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  10. ^ "Indonesia says 97 killed in military plane crash". Reuters. 2009-05-20. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  11. ^ a b c d "Indonesia Defends Record Of Downed Plane". CBS News. Associated Press. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  12. ^ "Evakuasi berlanjut, semua korban diketahui" (in Indonesian). VIVA. 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  13. ^ Ginanjar, Gina (2015-06-15). "Penyelidikan Hercules tak harus diumumkan" (in Indonesian). BBC. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  14. ^ a b "Dugaan berdasarkan kesaksian warga, pesawat jatuh karena mur copot" (in Indonesian). Subraya. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  15. ^ "Tragedi Hercules: Kesaksian Korban" (in Indonesian). Liputan 6. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2021-12-12.

External links[edit]