What happened
A charter flight was traveling from Jackson’s International Airport in Port Moresby to Bwagaoia Aerodrome on Misima Island. The flight was carrying a total of five people, consisting of two pilots and three passengers. During the approach to the destination, the aircraft encountered a heavy rainstorm, which led to the accumulation of standing water on the runway.
As the aircraft attempted to land, the combination of the runway surface conditions and the aircraft's velocity caused it to aquaplane. Additionally, a tailwind caused the aircraft to touch down further down the runway than intended. In response to the situation, the pilot in command attempted a baulked landing. However, the aircraft failed to accelerate sufficiently before reaching the end of the runway, preventing a successful climb.
At 16:15:30 local time, the aircraft struck terrain approximately 100 meters past the runway threshold. A fire fueled by jet fuel broke out following the impact, which destroyed the aircraft. Of the five people on board, there was one survivor, the co-pilot. Due to the intensity of the fire and subsequent explosions, rescuers were unable to reach the other four occupants.
Findings
Investigation into the accident revealed that the aircraft was in a serviceable condition and was producing substantial power at the moment of impact. The primary factors contributing to the crash were aquaplaning caused by heavy rain and standing water, alongside a tailwind that extended the landing roll. Records also indicated that the pilot in command and this specific aircraft had been involved in a previous runway overrun at the same location in February 2009.