What happened
A scheduled flight operating between Mount Hagen and Madang was conducting a series of stops at several local airfields, including Ogelbeng, Tremearne, Baiyer River, Wabag, Wapenamanda, and Yarramunda. The purpose of the mission was to facilitate inspections of various airstrips by two officials from the DCA.
While navigating through a constricted valley, the pilot attempted to increase the aircraft's altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft type (unspecified model) struck trees and crashed, subsequently catching fire. The impact and following post-crash fire resulted in three fatalities, with no survivors among the crew or passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the pilot possessed 6,000 flying hours but lacked sufficient experience operating in the Highlands region. At the time of the accident, the pilot was under specific operational restrictions regarding certain routes and had operated the charter flight in violation of company regulations. The investigation concluded that the pilot attempted to climb rising terrain in a narrowing valley while simultaneously jettisoning passenger luggage to lighten the aircraft's load.