Merauke – Biak

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Puncak Jaya (4,160 meters high) located in Papua. As the airplane failed to arrive at Biak Airport, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 8 crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1969 on the south slope of the mountain.

Flight / Schedule

Merauke – Biak

Registration

X-11

MSN

15865/32613

Year of Manufacture

1945

Date

June 28, 1962 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mt Puncak Jaya Special Region of Papua

Region

Asia • Indonesia

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On June 28, 1962 at 12:00 AM, Merauke – Biak experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Royal Netherlands Air Force - Koninklijke Luchtmacht, with the event recorded near Mt Puncak Jaya Special Region of Papua.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Puncak Jaya (4,160 meters high) located in Papua. As the airplane failed to arrive at Biak Airport, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 8 crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1969 on the south slope of the mountain.

Aircraft reference details include registration X-11, MSN 15865/32613, year of manufacture 1945.

Fatalities

Total

8

Crew

5

Passengers

3

Other

0

Crash Summary

While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Puncak Jaya (4,160 meters high) located in Papua. As the airplane failed to arrive at Biak Airport, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 8 crew members was found. The wreckage was located in 1969 on the south slope of the mountain.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

3

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 8

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Merauke – Biak

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Asia • Indonesia

Aircraft Details

Registration

X-11

MSN

15865/32613

Year of Manufacture

1945

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