Incident Overview
The aircraft was completing a flight from Lae to Port Moresby, transporting three crew members and 26 cadets of the Papua New Guinea Army. After passing over Wau in good weather conditions, the pilot decided to enter the Kudjeru Gap Valley. Weather conditions then deteriorated rapidly, with cloud tops reported up to 10,500 feet.
Accident Sequence
While at an altitude of 5,000 feet and attempting to gain height, the right wing struck trees. The aircraft subsequently crashed on a mountain slope approximately 50 meters below the summit. The wreckage was located three days after the accident.
Aftermath
Five injured passengers were evacuated from the crash site. One of them later died from his injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the pilot entered an area of low visibility, and the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.