What happened
Between February 27 and March 1, 1942, the aircraft with registration PK-AFZ made an emergency landing in the jungle near Muara Kuang, on the west bank of the Ogan River. This occurred approximately 75 kilometers south of Palembang. The aircraft had one engine running, and the wireless operator attempted to establish radio contact with Java and Palembang, though success is unconfirmed.
On March 1, the crew abandoned the plane and traveled east toward the river, carrying a significant quantity of gold from the cargo. They enlisted a local guide to assist them in moving north toward Palembang. The group stayed in shelters near Soeka Tjinta and Lubuk Keliat while arranging transport via boat to escape through the Kali Mesuji toward the Java Sea.
However, a plot was formed to rob the crew. On the evening of March 2, under false pretenses, the crew was moved to the east side of the river by local individuals. They were housed in a shelter near kilometer marker 93. During the night, the crew felt vulnerable as their numbers were outnumbered and one revolver was stolen. As they awaited departure, an armed confrontation erupted around 04:00 on March 3.
In the ensuing fire battle, three members of the crew were killed, including the captain and a second crew member who drowned in the river. The wireless operator escaped into the jungle. He later sought refuge with local authorities but was handed over to a Japanese patrol. After being treated for wounds by a local doctor, he was taken to a cemetery on March 6, where he was executed.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that due to a lack of sufficient evidence, the exact cause of the initial accident could not be determined. Most local perpetrators were arrested and interrogated after the war, but no prosecutions took place. The remains of three crew members were never recovered, while the final fate of the fourth was confirmed by eyewitness accounts.