Overview
On 5 October 2007, a Fletcher FU24-950M aircraft, registered PK-PNZ and operated by PT. Sinar Mas Super Air, was engaged in aerial agricultural spraying operations at palm plantations in Rokan Estate, Pekanbaru, Riau. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, had conducted a morning session of 27 cycles without incident. The accident occurred during the afternoon session.
Flight Details
The afternoon session commenced with takeoff from runway 18 at 05:00 UTC. After departure, the pilot initiated a left turn toward the fertilization area located to the left of the runway. During the turn, the pilot reported feeling a strong wind from the right. The aircraft began to descend, and the left wing struck a palm tree, resulting in the loss of the wing tip. Control became difficult, and the aircraft subsequently crashed into palm trees approximately 238 meters from the end of runway 18.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot suffered minor injuries. Weather conditions at the time were clear, with wind speeds between 6 and 10 knots.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation identified several findings and contributing factors:
- Aircraft: The aircraft held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness and Certificate of Registry and was airworthy at dispatch. No system malfunctions were recorded.
- Pilot: The pilot held a valid license but had no record of training for agricultural operations.
- Flight Technique: The very low altitude and low-speed turning maneuver posed a high risk of sinking in the presence of crosswinds. The strong wind from the right and a downdraft encountered during climb contributed to the loss of control. The pilot's actions indicated inadequate knowledge and understanding of flight techniques for such conditions.
- Operations: The operator lacked a training syllabus and program for pilots without prior agricultural experience.
- Airstrip: The runway strip width was 12 meters, with palm trees 30 meters away and 15 meters high, creating a tunnel-like environment. Wind shear caused by the trees meant the pilot could not observe wind conditions before takeoff.
Contributing factors included the pilot's lack of training for agricultural operations, failure to counteract the aircraft's sinking during low-level flight, the operator's lack of a training program for inexperienced pilots, and the absence of agriculture operation regulations prior to the accident.