Flight and Accident Details
A charter flight was being conducted from Jackson’s International Airport in Port Moresby, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea, to Bwagaoia Aerodrome on Misima Island, Milne Bay Province. On board were two pilots and three passengers. During the approach and landing, a heavy rain storm was in progress over the aerodrome, resulting in standing water on the runway. This water, combined with the aircraft’s speed, caused the aircraft to aquaplane. Additionally, a tailwind contributed to the aircraft landing further along the runway than normal. The pilot in command (PIC) initiated a baulked landing procedure. The aircraft was unable to gain flying speed by the end of the runway and did not climb. It descended into terrain approximately 100 meters beyond the end of runway 26. The impact occurred at 1615:30 Papua New Guinea local time, and the aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fuel-fed fire.
Aftermath and Investigation
The copilot was the only survivor. Other persons who came to assist were unable to rescue the remaining occupants due to fire and explosions in the aircraft. On-site evidence and reports from the surviving copilot indicated that the aircraft was serviceable and producing significant power at the time of impact. Further investigation revealed that the same aircraft and PIC had been involved in a previous landing overrun at Misima Island in February 2009.
Investigation findings noted that the runway surface was described as gravel but had degraded over time. The weather station anemometer was giving an incorrect wind indication.
Probable Cause
The following contributing safety factors were identified: the operator’s processes for determining the aircraft’s required landing distance did not appropriately consider all relevant performance factors; the operator’s processes for learning and implementing change from the previous runway overrun incident were ineffective; the flight crew did not use effective crew resource management techniques to manage the approach and landing; the crew landed long on a runway that was too short, affected by a tailwind, had a degraded surface, and was water contaminated; the crew did not carry out a go-around during the approach when visibility was less than the minimum requirements for a visual approach; and the baulked landing was initiated too late to assure a safe takeoff. Other safety factors included the aircraft aquaplaning during the landing roll, limiting its deceleration; the degraded gravel runway surface; and the incorrect wind indication from the weather station anemometer.