Looking for relatives of the 1957 KLM Constellation accident in Biak, Papua, Indonesia (New Guineau)
Hannie de Rijke survived this awful accident in 1957 and is searching for relatives of the casualties and survivors. Hannie revisited the site of the accident in her 30's, which she survived along with her parents, brother and sister, and met the Papua residents that saved her family that fatal day.
She is now searching for relatives of the passengers and crew involved in this accident, so they can visit the memorial she has organised with the Indonesian authorities, which will be officially shown to the public on the 16th July in Biak.
She is now searching for relatives of the passengers and crew involved in this accident, so they can visit the memorial she has organised with the Indonesian authorities, which will be officially shown to the public on the 16th July in Biak.
Accident description
Last updated: 23 June 2012
Status:Final
Date:16 JUL 1957
Time:03:36
Type:Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 Super Constellation
Operator:KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Registration: PH-LKT
C/n / msn: 4504
First flight: 1953
Total airframe hrs:11867
Crew:Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Passengers:Fatalities: 49 / Occupants: 59
Total:Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 68
Airplane damage: Written off
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:1,2 km (0.8 mls) off Biak-Mokmer Airport (BIK) (Indonesia)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Biak-Mokmer Airport (BIK) (BIK/WABB), Indonesia
Destination airport:Manila International Airport (MNL) (MNL/RPLL), Philippines
Flightnumber: 844
Narrative:
The Super Constellation, named "Neutron", departed from Biak runway 10 at 03:32 at night for the first leg of a flight back to Amsterdam. Shortly after take-off the pilot asked the tower controller to keep the runway lights on and requested permission for a low run over the airfield. Both requests were granted. The aircraft was in a 180deg turn when it lost altitude gradually until it struck the sea and broke apart. The wreckage sank in 250m of water.
In February 2000 a request was made to reopen the investigation because of accounts regarding the possibility that the crew had been drinking alcoholic beverages prior to the flight.
Family of the captain in question also wanted the investigation to be
reopened to clear his name.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The explanation of the accident lies either in an error on the part of the pilot or in a technical failure. The Board was unable to state whether the accident could have been caused by a combination of both pilot error and technical failure. The Board was of the opinion that low runs should not be made by aircraft on scheduled services. The magnitude of the danger that is inherent in the proximity of the ground on takeoff and landing should not be increased unnecessarily by flying at low altitude."
Events:
Sources:
ICAO Accident Digest No.9, Circular 56-AN/51 (141-145)
Nederlandse Constallations / H.Dekker
Vrij Nederland 13.02.1999 (p.18-19)
Last updated: 23 June 2012
Status:Final
Date:16 JUL 1957
Time:03:36
Type:Lockheed L-1049C-55-81 Super Constellation
Operator:KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Registration: PH-LKT
C/n / msn: 4504
First flight: 1953
Total airframe hrs:11867
Crew:Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9
Passengers:Fatalities: 49 / Occupants: 59
Total:Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 68
Airplane damage: Written off
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:1,2 km (0.8 mls) off Biak-Mokmer Airport (BIK) (Indonesia)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Biak-Mokmer Airport (BIK) (BIK/WABB), Indonesia
Destination airport:Manila International Airport (MNL) (MNL/RPLL), Philippines
Flightnumber: 844
Narrative:
The Super Constellation, named "Neutron", departed from Biak runway 10 at 03:32 at night for the first leg of a flight back to Amsterdam. Shortly after take-off the pilot asked the tower controller to keep the runway lights on and requested permission for a low run over the airfield. Both requests were granted. The aircraft was in a 180deg turn when it lost altitude gradually until it struck the sea and broke apart. The wreckage sank in 250m of water.
In February 2000 a request was made to reopen the investigation because of accounts regarding the possibility that the crew had been drinking alcoholic beverages prior to the flight.
Family of the captain in question also wanted the investigation to be
reopened to clear his name.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The explanation of the accident lies either in an error on the part of the pilot or in a technical failure. The Board was unable to state whether the accident could have been caused by a combination of both pilot error and technical failure. The Board was of the opinion that low runs should not be made by aircraft on scheduled services. The magnitude of the danger that is inherent in the proximity of the ground on takeoff and landing should not be increased unnecessarily by flying at low altitude."
Events:
Sources:
ICAO Accident Digest No.9, Circular 56-AN/51 (141-145)
Nederlandse Constallations / H.Dekker
Vrij Nederland 13.02.1999 (p.18-19)
If you know of living relatives of the casualties you can contact Hannie through Adres Onbekend in The Netherlands.
www.adresonbekend.kro.nl (The article about Hannie's search is in Dutch
Email : adresonbekend@kro.nl
Or info@atc-network.com
www.adresonbekend.kro.nl (The article about Hannie's search is in Dutch
Email : adresonbekend@kro.nl
Or info@atc-network.com
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