What happened
A scheduled flight operating between Ogle, Kato, Kopinang, and Mahdia ended in an accident during the second leg of its journey. After an extended delay of over two hours at Kato Airport due to adverse weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft departed Kato at 1345LT. On board were the pilot and four passengers, consisting of two adults, a five-year-old child, and an infant.
Approximately twenty minutes after takeoff, the aircraft was performing an approach to Kopinang when it struck trees and crashed within a dense forest located a short distance from the airfield. Search efforts located the wreckage several hours after the impact.
Findings
The accident resulted in three fatalities, including the pilot and two passengers, one of whom was an infant. Additionally, two passengers sustained serious injuries during the crash.