Air Force striving to obtain zero-accident level

Air Force chief Marshal Imam Sufaat said on Monday that the force would continue efforts to reach zero-accident level despite a Jan. 6 crash in Magelang, Central Java, in which one instructor died.

“We actually reached zero-accident status in 2011, which was quite an achievement,” he told a press conference after a leadership meeting at the Defense Ministry.

“We have various cooperation agreements with other air forces to improve flight safety, such as with Australia, Singapore and the United States.”

He said that developing a culture of safety was a tough job that required discipline.

The Beechcraft T-34C Turbo-Mentor primary trainer with tail number LD-3417 crashed into the bank of the Progo River in Magelang, Central Java.

The pilot, Capt. Ali Musthofa, died instantly. Eyewitness reports said that airplane nosedived into the riverbank.

Imam said preliminary investigation reports revealed that the aircraft was flying too low.

“Our radar in Yogyakarta registered that the airplane was flying too low, but the operators failed to warn the pilot due to a seniority issue as he was a senior captain,” he said.

“Therefore, we will station a flight instructor to monitor all flights by both instructors and students.”

He said the ill-fated aircraft was airworthy despite being commissioned in 1977.

“Even the US experiences problems with its newer airplanes,” he said.