6 fatalities

Charter Flight Crashes Near Tegal After Pilot Becomes Lost and Runs Out of Fuel (XW-PEH)

Tegal, IndonesiaFlight

On February 1, 1972, a Douglas DC-6 (registration XW-PEH) operated by PENAS (PT. Survai Udara Penas Persero) was involved in an aviation accident near Tegal, Indonesia in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew lost their orientation in flight, probably due to a faulty compass reading on the part of the crew or a possible technical problem with the compass. An emergency landing was necessary due to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

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

A charter flight from Singapore to Jakarta crashed near Tegal, Indonesia, after the captain became lost and ran short of fuel. The pilot and five passengers were killed; three other occupants were injured.

Accident Overview

A charter flight departing from Singapore bound for Jakarta crashed in a prairie near Tegal, approximately 260 kilometers southeast of the intended destination. The accident resulted in the deaths of the pilot and five passengers, while three other occupants sustained injuries.

Circumstances

About four hours after departure, the captain realized he was not on the correct route and was lost. As the aircraft was short on fuel, the captain reduced altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The airplane subsequently crashed in a prairie near Tegal.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined that the crew lost their orientation in flight, probably due to a faulty compass reading on the part of the crew or a possible technical problem with the compass. An emergency landing was necessary due to fuel exhaustion.