What happened
During a scheduled cargo transport operation from Ogeranang to Lae, a twin engine airplane impacted the terrain within the Rawlinson Mountain Range. The aircraft was transporting a shipment of coffee at the time of the accident. While operating at an altitude of 8,700 feet, the flight encountered marginal weather conditions.
During the cruise phase of the flight, the aircraft struck a mountain slope. Search efforts located the wreckage approximately 32 km from its destination in Lae. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both members of the flight crew were killed upon impact.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was controlled flight into terrain.