No fatalities

Twin-engine mapping aircraft forced landing near Ketapang (PK-AKU)

Ketapang, IndonesiaFlight

On August 16, 1938, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration PK-AKU) operated by Nederlandse Nieuw Guinea Petroleum Maatschappij (NNGPM) was involved in an aviation accident near Ketapang, Indonesia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure in flight. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft conducting a mapping mission over West Kalimantan suffered an engine failure, forcing the pilot to land on a beach near Ketapang. Both occupants survived without injury.

What happened

The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating a mapping mission over the West Kalimantan Region in the Dutch Indies. The flight crew consisted of the pilot and a passenger acting as a photographer. During the operation, one of the engines failed while the aircraft was en route.

In response to the mechanical failure, both occupants attempted to maintain a safe altitude by discarding unnecessary items from the cabin. Despite these efforts, the pilot was unable to sustain the required altitude and initiated a forced landing on a beach located near Ketapang. Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft sustained severe structural damage, losing both wings before coming to rest.

Findings

The official investigation identified engine failure in flight as the primary cause of the accident. The aircraft was declared damaged beyond repair following the event. Both individuals on board remained uninjured.

Probable cause

Engine failure in flight