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3 fatalities

VFR Mountain Strike Near Kokoda (P2-DNW)

Kokoda, Papua New GuineaFlight

On August 30, 1985, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration P2-DNW) operated by Douglas Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Kokoda, Papua New Guinea in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a wooded mountain. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 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 VFR flight in marginal weather struck a wooded mountain 17 km south of Kokoda, killing the pilot and two female passengers. Two other passengers were evacuated, one seriously injured.

Incident Overview and Casualties The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules (VFR) in marginal weather conditions when it collided with a wooded mountain. The pilot failed to recognize that the aircraft's altitude was insufficient for the terrain. The wreckage was located 17 km south of Kokoda. The pilot and two female passengers were killed in the accident. Two other passengers, including the author of the source photos, were evacuated to a local hospital. One of these passengers sustained serious injuries, while the photo author was uninjured. ## Operational Context The accident occurred during a VFR cruise in marginal weather. The investigation source indicates that the pilot did not realize the altitude was insufficient before the impact with the wooded mountain. No aircraft type, registration, operator, or specific date is provided in the source.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a wooded mountain.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

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