What happened
On a scheduled passenger flight from Sultan Hasan anduddin Airport in Makassar to El Tari Airport in Kupang, the BAA-Acro aircraft, registration PK-MJD, encountered a significant mechanical issue during the approach phase. The flight, operated by Merpati, was carrying a total of 94 people, including 88 passengers, six crew members, and one maintenance engineer. While preparing for arrival, the crew observed that the left main landing gear indicator light remained red, signaling that the gear was not locked in the down position.
In response to the malfunction, the pilot initiated a go-around and requested permission from Air Traffic Control to enter a holding pattern over Kupang Bay. The crew attempted to resolve the issue by following emergency checklists and utilizing the alternate gear selector. To assist in troubleshooting, the pilot requested that the aircraft fly at a low altitude so that Air Traffic Control and a ground-based engineer could visually inspect the landing gear status. Despite repeated attempts to manually deploy the gear, the mechanism failed to lock.
After consulting with the onboard engineer and the other pilot, the crew decided to attempt an un-procedural method to force the gear down. Following a notification to the passengers regarding the situation, the crew determined that a landing with the left main gear retracted was necessary. The pilot instructed the flight attendants to prepare for an abnormal landing, while ground services, including fire departments and medical personnel, were placed on standby.
During the final approach, the crew issued a brace command. The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 touched down on runway 07, with the pilot attempting to maintain the centerline and use the left wing to stabilize the aircraft. The aircraft came to a stop on the left shoulder of the runway, approximately 1,200 meters from the threshold. Following the stop, the crew initiated an emergency evacuation through all available exits. No injuries were reported among the 94 occupants.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the left main landing gear to extend and lock in the down position.
- The crew attempted all standard emergency procedures and manual overrides before deciding to proceed with the landing in an unsafe configuration.