What happened
Following its departure from Alotau Airport, the aircraft began its flight following the established departure protocols. For roughly 17 km, the pilot maintained a flight path that remained below the cloud base. During the flight, the pilot executed a left-hand turn toward the northwest.
Shortly after this maneuver, the aircraft entered a cloud layer. Within less than two minutes of entering the clouds, the plane collided with the slope of a mountain situated about 25 km away from Alotau. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused six fatalities.
Findings
- The flight transitioned from visual conditions to flying within clouds.
- The collision occurred while the aircraft was navigating a mountainous area.