Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 13 February 1983
Aircraft Type: Learjet 35A
Owner/operator: Upali Air
Registration Number: N482U
Location: ca 20 km W off Kuala Selangor, Straits of Malacca –
ÿ Malaysia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Aircraft Flight Control System (specifically, communication equipment).Aircraft Flight Control System (specifically, communication equipment).
Category: Accident
An Upali Air Learjet 35A, carrying Sri Lankan businessman Upali Wijewardene, disappeared from the Straits of Malacca. The aircraft took off from Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL) at 20:41, climbing from FL270 to FL390. Communication with the pilot was lost after 15 minutes, with the pilot reporting no contact with Medan ATC. A survival pack was discovered February 19.An Upali Air Learjet 35A, carrying Sri Lankan businessman Upali Wijewardene, disappeared from the Straits of Malacca. The aircraft took off from Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL) at 20:41, climbing from FL270 to FL390. Communication with the pilot was lost after 15 minutes, with the pilot reporting no contact with Medan ATC. A survival pack was discovered February 19.
Description
An Upali Air Learjet 35A was reported missing and presumed crashed into the Straits of Malacca. The corporate jet, carrying Sri Lankan multi-millionair businessman Upali Wijewardene, took off from Kuala Lumpur Subang International Airport (KUL) at 20:41. Last radio contact with the flight was 15 minutes after takeoff when the pilot reported to Subang ATC that he was climbing from FL270 to FL390. The pilot was supposed to contact Medan ATC, but contact was not established. A survival pack, believed to be from the Learjet, was found February 19.
Primary Cause
Pilot communication failure and potential navigational error.Pilot communication failure and potential navigational error.Share on:
