On July 25, 1939, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration PK-SAO) operated by Soerabaiasche Motorenhandel was involved in an aviation accident near Surabaya, Indonesia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during a turn on final approach led to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A student pilot and instructor suffered serious injuries when their aircraft stalled and crashed during a final approach turn at Surabaya Airport.
What happened
The incident involved a local training flight conducted by a student pilot accompanied by an instructor. The operation took place in the vicinity of Surabaya Airport. While executing a turn on the final approach, the crew lost control of the aircraft. This loss of control resulted in an aerodynamic stall, causing the airplane to crash into the ground. Both individuals on board sustained serious injuries as a result of the impact.
Findings
The available information indicates that the accident occurred during the final phase of flight while the aircraft was completing a turn. The primary mechanical event leading to the crash was a stall resulting from the loss of control.
Probable cause
Loss of control during a turn on final approach led to an aerodynamic stall and subsequent crash.
An X-AIR HAWK ultralight crashed in Chonburi, Thailand, killing the pilot and injuring a passenger. The accident was caused by deteriorated wing fabric and…
A Challenger II Special ultralight aircraft (U-B23) landed off-runway at Pai Airport, Mae Hong Son, on September 17, 2024, due to a gust of wind. No injuries…
The Polish aviation safety authority is investigating a serious incident involving an AT-3R100 aircraft that occurred on September 2, 2024. The investigation…
A SZD-48-3 glider suffered damage when its left wing struck a ground obstacle during a low final approach at EPWK on June 20, 2025. The pilot was uninjured.
A 39-year-old skydiver died after a hard landing near Leszno on May 1, 2026. The PKBWL preliminary report indicates the fatal impact resulted from a late,…
A student pilot crashed an SZD-50-3 Puchacz glider into the airfield fence during a solo training flight on June 6, 2026. The pilot was uninjured, but the…