A small cargo plane with three crew members has crashed into the mountainous regions of Indonesia’s most eastern province, Papua, claiming the lives of all three crew on board. The Twin Otter aircraft registered PK-OTW was being operated by Rimbun Air and at the time of the fatal crash, the aircraft was carrying construction materials and equipment from Nabire Airport to Bilogai-Sugapa Airport.
The aircraft attempted to land at around 7:30 local time, but their landing was compromised by thick fog. The flight crew initiated a go-around, however, witnesses near the airport reported hearing loud noises and the sounds of trees falling shortly after the pilots initiated the go-around.
Airport officials said that the Rimbun Air flight lost contact with air traffic controllers shortly before it was due to land at an airport in Bilogai-Sugapa Airport. An official stated that “the weather at the airport was not supportive, it was predicted that the plane would land but the runway was not clearly visible.”
The locals found the wreckage of the Twin Otter on a hill. However, heavy rain, thick fog, and the steep terrain impeded the rescue and recovery efforts. Timika rescue agency chief, George Leo Mercy Randang later confirmed that all three crew members that were onboard had sadly passed away.
Unfortunately, fatal accidents like this are very common in Indonesia. The country has one of the worst aviation safety records in Asia. Located near the equator, Indonesia experiences unanticipated thunderstorms and monsoon rain almost all year round, therefore, the country’s geographical location also plays a contributory role.
While one could argue that its geographical location has an effect on a country’s poor aviation safety record. Past accidents have been attributed to poor pilot training, mechanical failures due to poor aircraft maintenance in addition to air traffic control issues.
Source: https://aeronewsx.com/rimbun-air-twin-otter-crashes-in-papua/
