Narrative:The C-47 operated on a night time training flight. It took off from the Biak-Boroekoe Royal Dutch Navy Air Station at 18:37. After practicing approach and landings, the crew had to activate light torches off the coast of Biak. The airplane flew along the coast line at an altitude of 3500-4000 feet.
One of these torches activated inside the aircraft and an in-flight fire erupted. The crew attempted to carry out an emergency landing at sea but the airplane crashed.
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This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not
display the exact flight path.
Distance from Biak-Boroekoe Royal Dutch Navy Air Station to Biak-Boroekoe Royal Dutch Navy Air Station as the crow flies is NAN km (NAN miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Networkĺs opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.