Low Altitude Operations, Angkasa Aviation Academy (Cessna 172 Pk-Wug), Cimanuk River, Indramayu - West Java KNKT.19.07.14.04

On 22 July 2019, a Cessna 172S registered PK-WUG was being operated by Angkasa Aviation Academy (AAA) on a mutual flight training exercise from Cakrabhuwana Airport (WICD), Cirebon to Indramayu Training Area. The flight plan was filed with cruising altitude of 2,000 feet. The exercise for the student pilot was on C-14 Stage which contained exercises of mutual precision rate one turns, compass error and performance manoeuvres.

Prior to the departure, there was no record or report of aircraft system malfunction. On board the aircraft were two student pilots and one of the students acted as Pilot in Command (PIC) while the other student pilot seated on the right seat.

At 1358 LT, the PK-WUG aircraft departed from Cirebon to the Indramayu Training Area. The Global Positioning System (GPS) installed in the aircraft recorded that when the aircraft was flying over the southern boundary of the Indramayu Training Area, the aircraft was descending. At 1425 LT, the aircraft flew westerly and was descending passed 750 feet.

The aircraft continued descend and while flew over the Cimanuk River passed 140 feet. About one minute flying over the river, the aircraft struck power line cables and crashed into the river.

After the aircraft stopped, both pilots self-evacuated from the aircraft and helped by local people to the river bank. During the evacuation, the Safety Pilot was drowned and fatally injured while the PIC had minor injury.

The investigation determined that the aircraft serviceability was not issue in this accident. The investigation concluded the contributing factor of the accident was:

· The available means to monitor flight training activities that had not been utilized resulted in the aircraft flying below the minimum safe altitude was undetected.

· Flying the aircraft below the minimum safe altitude and unaware of the power line cables ran across the river made the aircraft struck three power line cables.

The KNKT had been informed safety actions taken by the AAA and considered relevant to improve safety, however there still safety issues remain to be considered. Therefore, the KNKT issued safety recommendations to the AAA and Directorate General of Civil Aviation to address safety issues identified in this report.