Batavia – Palembang – Singapore – Bangkok – Rutbah Wells – Cairo – Amsterdam

On October 6, 1937 at 12:25 PM, Batavia – Palembang – Singapore – Bangkok – Rutbah Wells – Cairo – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-3, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Palembang South Sumatra.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 36.4%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff from Palembang-Talang Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. Crew decided to return for a safe landing but the aircraft hit tree tops, stalled and crashed near the airport. The cockpit was destroyed and separated from the rest of the aircraft, killing three crew. A passenger was killed as well. The aircraft was christened 'Specht'. Crew: F.M. Stork, pilot, † H.J. Groeneveld, copilot, J. J. Ruben, engineer, † J. J. Stodieck, radio. †

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-ALS, MSN 1940, year of manufacture 1937.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -3.0330°, 104.6907°.