A Pelita Air Service Air Tractor 802 aircraft, registered PK-PAA, tragically crashed into the hills of Long Bawan, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, on Thursday, February 19, around 12:25 WIT.
“At 12:25 WIT, the disaster struck. Eyewitnesses at the apron (aircraft parking area) reported seeing the aircraft descend at a tilt towards a hill at the end of Runway 22,” stated Syahril, Head of the Tarakan SAR Office, to kumparan on Thursday (19/2). Syahril further explained that the aircraft, operating on the Long Bawan-Tarakan route, crashed moments after takeoff.
The sole occupant and pilot of the aircraft, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, was tragically found deceased at the scene. As the aircraft was single-piloted, he was the only fatality in this unfortunate incident.
First Report from a Susi Air Pilot
Crucially, the crashed aircraft was equipped with an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), a vital safety feature designed to automatically emit a distress signal upon a severe impact. According to Syahril, a Susi Air aircraft, registered PK-BVN, which was airborne near the vicinity, detected this ELT signal at 12:27 WIT, originating from the direction of the runway’s end.
Following the detection of the emergency signal, a swift search operation was launched. Syahril further detailed that a combined team comprising personnel from the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), the District Military Command (Koramil), and local residents successfully located the crash site by 13:25 WIT, just over an hour after the initial incident.
Light Rain Weather
Regarding the prevailing conditions at the time of the accident, Syahril noted that the weather generally featured light rain. “Visibility remained quite safe for flight, with a reported range of 6 kilometers,” he added. “The wind was blowing from 240 degrees at a very slow speed of 2 knots,” Syahril concluded.
Summary
A Pelita Air Service Air Tractor 802 aircraft (PK-PAA) tragically crashed into the hills of Long Bawan, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, around 12:25 WIT on Thursday, February 19. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft descend at a tilt towards a hill shortly after takeoff from the Long Bawan-Tarakan route. The sole occupant and pilot, Captain Hendrick Lodewyck Adam, was found deceased at the scene.
The crashed aircraft’s Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) emitted a distress signal, which was detected by a nearby Susi Air aircraft at 12:27 WIT. A combined search team, including TNI AU and local residents, successfully located the crash site by 13:25 WIT. At the time of the accident, the weather featured light rain, with good visibility of 6 kilometers and a slow 2-knot wind.