What happened
A scheduled service operated by The Fellowship, flying under the callsign 'Mamberamo', was en route from Palembang Airport to Medan. During the night, while performing an NDB approach toward runway 05 at Polonia Airport, the aircraft began its descent amidst restricted visibility.
While at an altitude of approximately 5,560 feet, the aircraft type (unspecified model) collided with the side of Mt Sibayak, which stands at a height of 2,194 meters. The impact occurred roughly 38 km southwest of the destination airport. The collision caused the total destruction of the plane and resulted in 61 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew initiated their descent earlier than required and maintained an approach path that was below the proper glide slope. This led to a controlled flight into terrain. Additionally, the presence of limited visibility during the nighttime approach was identified as a contributing element to the crash.