No fatalities

Low Oil Pressure Leads to Diversion; Subsequent Takeoff Ends in Crash (M21-12)

Simanggang, MalaysiaTakeoff (climb)

On November 29, 1980, a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (registration M21-12) operated by Royal Malaysian Air Force - Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia was involved in an aviation accident near Simanggang, Malaysia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

Aircraft en route from Balikpapan to Kuching diverted to Simanggang after left engine low oil pressure. After refueling, takeoff resulted in right engine feathering system issue and crash 1,400 meters past runway, destroying aircraft and injuring three crew.

Incident Overview

An aircraft en route from Balikpapan to Kuching experienced a low oil pressure warning light for the left engine. The crew shut down the engine and feathered its propeller. Due to bad weather at Kuching, the captain decided to divert to Simanggang, where the airplane landed safely on one engine.

Engine Failure and Diversion

After touchdown, as the airplane decelerated, the pilot-in-command executed a 180-degree turn and then a backtrack procedure. During this maneuver, one of the landing gear entered soft ground along the runway edge. The crew subsequently filled the left engine oil tank before taking off again for Kuching.

Subsequent Takeoff and Accident

After liftoff, during initial climb, a warning light indicated a technical problem with the feathering system on the right engine. The airplane began to roll left and right, lost height, and crashed in a jungle located 1,400 meters past the end of the runway. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact, and all three crew members sustained injuries.