What happened
Following the completion of pre-flight procedures and receiving clearance from air traffic control, the Fokker F28 taxied to the start of Runway 35. The aircraft commenced its takeoff roll without delay. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the plane traveled roughly 3,200 feet before lifting off the runway.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 meters, it experienced a leftward yaw and a nose-down pitch. The aircraft struck the ground in a nearly level orientation, with the left wing flap outboard fairing doors making initial contact, followed by the left side of the fuselage belly. The impact occurred when the plane hit a drainage ditch located 28 meters west of the runway. The subsequent momentum caused the aircraft to break apart and ignite into flames within 100 meters of the initial impact. Of the total occupants on board, 66 fatalities were recorded, while one crew member and six passengers survived the accident.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft had been parked overnight in an open area at Cumaovasi Airport. At the time of takeoff, meteorological conditions included a temperature of +3° C and 97% humidity. It was concluded that frost accretion on the upper wing surfaces and elevators had formed during the night. This frost went undetected during the pre-flight walk-around inspection.
Flight data recorder analysis showed that while the aircraft reached a speed of 133 kt, it subsequently dropped to 124 kt as the plane veered left. The data indicated that the pilot rotated the aircraft beyond the standard angle of attack. This over-rotation, combined with the aerodynamic interference from the frost, led to an aerodynamic stall at a critically low altitude, leaving the pilot with insufficient height to recover.