What happened
On 31 October 2016, a DHC-4 Caribou, registration PK-SWW, was conducting an unscheduled cargo mission from Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika toward Kaminggaru Aerodrome in Ilaga, Papua. The flight was operated by Perkumpulan Penerally Penerbangan Alfa Indonesia and carried a total of 4 fatalities, including two pilots, a company engineer, and a flight operations officer.
The aircraft departed Timika at 2257 UTC, with a planned cruising altitude of 12,500 feet and an expected arrival time of 2327 UTC. Shortly before the scheduled arrival, at 2323 UTC, the pilot contacted the Ilaga Aerodrome Flight Information Services (AFIS) to report the aircraft's position at Ilaga Pass. The AFIS officer instructed the crew to descend to circuit altitude and to provide a position report once on the downwind leg.
Communication ceased after this exchange. At 2330 UTC, the AFIS officer attempted to contact the aircraft, but the pilot did not respond. Even after another aircraft in the area was asked to attempt contact, there was no reply. Following the loss of contact, the Sentani Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) upgraded the aircraft's status to ALERFA at 0020 UTC. At 0022 UTC, an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was detected near the TMK VOR, specifically between Ilaga Pass and Jila Pass. The aircraft's status was later upgraded to DETRESFA at 0053 UTC.
On 1 November 2016, search efforts located the wreckage on a mountain ridge situated between Ilaga Pass and Jila Pass at an altitude of roughly 13,000 feet. The impact destroyed the aircraft and caused the deaths of all occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating a cargo flight during the night.
- The wreckage was located at an altitude higher than the intended cruising altitude of 12,500 feet.
- The impact force was the primary cause of the destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of the crew.