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4 fatalities

Fatal Mountain Strike Near Bank Airstrip (P2-HBE)

Bank, Papua New GuineaTakeoff (climb)

On October 13, 1993, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration P2-HBE) operated by Heli Niugini was involved in an aviation accident near Bank, Papua New Guinea during takeoff. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft did not have sufficient power to complete a steep climb as expected by the crew. Apparently, the aircraft stalled while completing a last turn due to an insufficient speed. Poor judgment on part of the crew. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside in the Simbai Valley shortly after takeoff from Bank Airstrip, killing all four occupants. The official report cited insufficient power and a stall during a turn.

Incident Overview and Location Details A twin-engine aircraft departed from Bank Airstrip and entered a climbing phase over the Simbai Valley. During this ascent, the aircraft collided with a mountain slope and crashed approximately 5.3 kilometers from the airfield. The impact resulted in the deaths of all four individuals on board. The source does not specify the aircraft's registration, operator, or exact date of the accident. ## Official Findings and Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the aircraft lacked sufficient power to complete the steep climb anticipated by the crew. The report indicated that the aircraft likely stalled while executing a final turn due to insufficient airspeed. The investigation attributed the accident to poor judgment on the part of the flight crew.

Loss of control in flight

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