What happened
On the night of 7 December 2007, a Piper Seneca PA-34, registration PK-JKS, was conducting a flight from Makassar to Kasiguncu Airport in Central Sulawesi. The aircraft, operated by PT. Air Transport Service, was carrying one pilot and five passengers.
Upon landing on runway 21, the aircraft initially proceeded normally for approximately 200 meters. However, during the landing roll, the aircraft suddenly began to veer to the left. This movement caused the propeller to strike the runway surface repeatedly, leaving deep gouges for a distance of 100 meters. As the aircraft continued its leftward trajectory, the left wing made contact with the runway, causing the aircraft to turn 90 degrees before coming to a halt on the grass shoulder. All 6 occupants escaped the incident uninjured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical systems to identify the source of the sudden deviation. The inspection of the landing gear revealed that while the nose and right main gear remained locked in the down position, the left main landing gear had moved into the retracted position.
Technical examinations of the hydraulic system and the landing gear micro-switches showed no evidence of defects or malfunctions. While investigators noted some play or movement in the left landing gear assembly, they could not definitively establish a causal link between this movement and the gear's subsequent retraction. The aircraft's components were well within their service life, with only 2,592 hours since new.
Findings
- The pilot maintained normal landing procedures and reported no warning indications of unsafe gear prior to touchdown.
- There was no detectable failure in the hydraulic system or the landing gear micro-switches.
- The cause of the landing gear unlocking and retracting during the landing roll remains undetermined.
- The airport lacked an operational rescue and fire fighting service at the time of the accident, as the primary vehicle had been out of service since 2004.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the NTSC issued recommendations to both the Kasiguncu Airport operator and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. These recommendations urge a review of emergency response procedures and equipment to ensure that airport rescue and fire fighting services meet the minimum standards established by ICAO Annex 14.