On December 4, 1938, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration PK-SAD) operated by Nederlands-Indische Vliegclub (NIVC) was involved in an aviation accident near Bandung, Indonesia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with power lines during low-altitude flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A solo training aircraft struck power lines at low altitude near Bandung, crashing into a lake and injuring the pilot.
What happened
The incident involved a solo training flight departing from the Bandung area. During the maneuvering phase of the flight, the aircraft was operating at a very low altitude, specifically at a height of approximately 18 metres. At this stage, the airplane made contact with overhead power cables. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control and crash into a nearby body of water.
Findings
The collision resulted in injuries to the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The primary factor leading to the accident was the low-altitude operation that brought the airframe into proximity with ground infrastructure.
Probable cause
Collision with power lines during low-altitude flight
What happened in the 4 Dec 1938 De Havilland DH.60 Moth accident near Bandung, Indonesia?
A solo training aircraft struck power lines at low altitude near Bandung, crashing into a lake and injuring the pilot.
Were there any fatalities in the 4 Dec 1938 De Havilland DH.60 Moth accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 4 Dec 1938 involved a De Havilland DH.60 Moth, registration PK-SAD, operated by Nederlands-Indische Vliegclub (NIVC), at Bandung, Indonesia.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Collision with power lines during low-altitude flight
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