What happened
On a flight departing Bulolo for Lae, a three-engine aircraft, registration VH-DHA, encountered heavy rainfall and limited visibility while approaching its destination. At approximately 0906LT, the pilot reported being positioned over the mouth of the Markham River. During this period of reduced visibility, the aircraft lost control and impacted the waters of the Huon Gulf, roughly four miles south of Lae Airport.
Search efforts located debris in the area around midday following the accident. There were no survivors among the seven fatalities recorded from the flight.
Findings
Initial assessments by aviation authorities suggested that the pilot attempted to maintain visual flight rules despite encountering low clouds and rain. However, subsequent investigations into the wreckage of VH-DHA provided a different explanation for the crash. While it was originally thought that a missing propeller blade was the result of the impact with the sea, investigators determined that the center propeller blade suffered a structural failure while in flight. This failure caused the engine to detach from its mounting, which ultimately led to the loss of control and the subsequent crash into the ocean.