4 fatalities

Single-engine aircraft crash near airport road (VH-UBY)

Goroka, Papua New GuineaTakeoff (climb)

On April 23, 1973, a Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair (registration VH-UBY) operated by Seventh-Day Adventist Church was involved in an aviation accident near Goroka, Papua New Guinea during takeoff. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during its initial climb. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine airplane stalled and crashed during its initial climb, resulting in the deaths of all four people on board.

What happened

An accident involving a single-engine airplane occurred during the early stages of flight. While performing an initial climb from the airfield, the aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall. This loss of lift caused the plane to descend uncontrollably, eventually impacting the ground near a road adjacent to the airport.

The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were four fatalities recorded in the incident, involving the pilot and three other occupants including a missionary and two passengers.

Findings

  • The aircraft entered a stall during the climb phase.
  • The crash occurred in the vicinity of an airport access road.

Probable cause

The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during its initial climb.