17 fatalities

Collision of Two Garuda C-47 Aircraft near Palembang Kills 34 (PK-GDU)

Palembang, IndonesiaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 1, 1966, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration PK-GDU) operated by Garuda Indonesian Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Palembang, Indonesia during landing or approach. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It is believed the collision was caused by the fact that both crew failed to pay sufficient attention to potential traffic while approaching the same airport at the same time. Poor ATC assistance may have been a contributing factor. 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

Two Garuda C-47 aircraft collided while approaching Palembang-Sultan Badaruddin II Airport, killing all 34 occupants. The second aircraft, registered PK-GDE, was inbound from Jakarta.

Accident

While approaching Palembang-Sultan Badaruddin II Airport, a Garuda C-47 aircraft collided with another Garuda C-47 registered PK-GDE. The second aircraft was inbound from Jakarta carrying 13 passengers and four crew members. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed into a swampy area. All 34 occupants on both aircraft were killed.

Aircraft

The second aircraft involved was a Garuda C-47 registered PK-GDE. The registration of the first aircraft was not specified. Both were operated by Garuda Indonesia.

Investigation

An official investigation was conducted into the accident. The probable cause was determined based on the available evidence. The investigation found that the collision occurred when both aircraft were approaching the same airport at the same time.

Probable Cause

The official findings stated: "It is believed the collision was caused by the fact that both crew failed to pay sufficient attention to potential traffic while approaching the same airport at the same time. Poor ATC assistance may have been a contributing factor."