SilkAir Flight 185: A Tragic Descent into the Musi River

The Fateful Flight

On December 19, 1997, SilkAir Flight 185, a Boeing 737-300, set out on what was supposed to be a routine journey from Soekarno–Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, to Singapore's Changi Airport. This scheduled international flight never completed its journey; instead, it tragically plunged into the Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra. The crash resulted in the heartbreaking loss of all 104 souls on board, comprising 97 passengers and seven crew members.

Details of the Crash

The aircraft, identified by its registration number 9V-TRF, began its journey at 15:37 local time. At the helm were Captain Tsu Way Ming, a seasoned pilot from Singapore with a background as an A-4 Skyhawk pilot, and First Officer Duncan Ward from New Zealand. The flight was expected to take approximately 80 minutes, with weather conditions generally favorable, save for some thunderstorms anticipated near Singkep Island.

As Flight 185 ascended, it was cleared to climb to a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet and directed towards Palembang. By 15:53, the crew confirmed reaching this altitude and were instructed to maintain the course. However, at 16:05, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) ceased to function, and just six minutes later, the flight data recorder (FDR) also stopped recording. At 16:12, the aircraft entered a catastrophic dive. It disintegrated mid-air due to the extreme forces during its near-supersonic descent, crashing into the Musi River and leaving no survivors.

The Aftermath and Recovery

Upon impact, the aircraft was obliterated, scattering debris across a wide area, yet most of the wreckage was concentrated in a 60-by-80-meter section of the riverbed. Tragically, no complete bodies were found, with only six individuals identified from the few remains recovered.

Background of the Aircraft and Crew

The ill-fated aircraft was a relatively new Boeing 737-36N, having completed its maiden flight less than a year before the crash, on January 27, 1997. It joined SilkAir's fleet in February 1997 and had logged over 2,200 flight hours across 1,300 cycles. This disaster marked the only fatal hull loss in SilkAir's history.

Passenger and Crew Details

Among the 104 victims were nationals from various countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United States, among others. The tragedy notably claimed the life of Bonny Hicks, a well-known Singaporean model and author.

Investigative Efforts and Controversial Findings

The investigation into this devastating incident was led by Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States, given Boeing's manufacture of the aircraft. Despite extensive recovery and examination of 73% of the wreckage, the investigation faced challenges in reaching a definitive conclusion.

The Divergent Conclusions

The NTSC ultimately declared the cause of the crash as undetermined, citing a lack of concrete evidence to support the theory of pilot suicide. In stark contrast, the NTSB, led by investigator Greg Feith, concluded that deliberate flight-control inputs, most likely by the captain, were to blame. The NTSB's findings pointed to intentional actions, including the manual disconnection of the CVR and FDR, and a deliberate nose-down input.

Legal Proceedings and Servo Valve Controversy

Adding complexity to the case, a civil lawsuit in Los Angeles concluded that a defective servo valve within the aircraft's hydraulic power control unit (PCU) caused the crash. This finding contradicted the NTSB's and Parker-Hannifin's determination that the PCU was functioning correctly. The families of the victims and the manufacturer of the rudder controls eventually reached an out-of-court settlement.

Theories and Motives

Speculation abounded regarding Captain Tsu's potential motives, ranging from financial pressures and recent disciplinary actions to personal tragedies and insurance policies. However, an investigation by the Singapore Police Force found no evidence of suicidal tendencies or motives among the crew.

The Role of the CVR and FDR

The CVR and FDR ceased recording minutes apart, with the CVR stopping as Captain Tsu left the cockpit. Investigators concluded that the CVR circuit breaker was manually pulled, pointing to a deliberate act.

Conclusion of the Investigation

The NTSC's final report in December 2000, despite initial investigator findings suggesting deliberate actions, was inconclusive. The report was believed to have been influenced by fears of public panic over flying. Meanwhile, the NTSB maintained their stance on intentional pilot action as the cause of the crash.

Sources

The full details and documentation of SilkAir Flight 185 can be found at Wikipedia: SilkAir Flight 185.