Accident Summary
On the day of the accident, a single-engine airplane departed Wasu Airfield at 1012 local time on a charter flight to Lae-Nadzab Tomodachi Airport, with an estimated time of arrival of 1047. The aircraft carried four passengers and one pilot. Among the passengers were a member of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and an employee from the Housing Ministry.
Minutes after takeoff, while cruising at 8,400 feet in marginal weather conditions, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in wooded, hilly terrain near Sapmanga, southwest of Wasu. The aircraft was destroyed, and all five occupants were killed. The airframe hours and landings recorded up to December 3, 2024.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft was flown in cloud or in reduced visibility at a cruise climb speed. It struck vegetation and the face of a steep ridge, resulting in controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). There was no evidence of a maneuver to avoid the terrain.
The aircraft was equipped with a Global Navigation System receiver capable of providing visual terrain awareness warnings but lacked a terrain aural warning interface. The report noted that incorporation of an aural warning in conjunction with the visual terrain warning may have prevented the accident.
Probable Cause
The probable cause as stated in the official findings: In an area of rising terrain, the pilot either flew the track in cloud or in markedly reduced visibility, with no reference to terrain, towards steeply rising terrain at an indicated airspeed that was 35 kts above the manufacturer’s (flight tested) promulgated best angle of climb speed to avoid obstacles.