Accident
On 31 October 2016, a de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou, registered PK-SWW, operated by Perkumpulan Penerbangan Alfa Indonesia, departed Moses Kilangin Airport in Timika, Papua, on an unscheduled cargo flight to Kaminggaru Aerodrome in Ilaga, Papua. The aircraft carried four persons: two pilots, one company engineer, and one flight operations officer.
The flight departed Timika at 2257 UTC with an intended cruising altitude of 12,500 feet and an estimated time of arrival at Ilaga of 2327 UTC. At 2323 UTC, the pilot made initial contact with the Ilaga Aerodrome Flight Information Services (AFIS) officer, reporting the aircraft's position at Ilaga Pass and an estimated arrival time of 2327 UTC. The AFIS officer advised the pilot to continue descending to circuit altitude and to report when on the downwind leg.
At 2330 UTC, the AFIS officer attempted to contact the pilot but received no reply. The AFIS officer then asked the pilot of another aircraft in the vicinity to contact the DHC-4 Caribou, but that attempt was also unsuccessful. At 0020 UTC on 1 November 2016, the Sentani Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) officer declared the aircraft status as ALERFA (alert phase).
At 0022 UTC, the Timika Tower controller received information from a pilot of another aircraft that an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal had been detected approximately 40 to 45 nautical miles on a radial of 060° from the TMK VOR (Very High Frequency Omni Range), near coordinates 4°7'46" S, 137°38'11" E. This position was located between Ilaga Pass and Jila Pass. At 0053 UTC, the aircraft was declared as DETRESFA (distress phase).
Wreckage and Victims
On 1 November 2016, the wreckage of the aircraft was found on a ridge of a mountain between Ilaga Pass and Jila Pass at coordinates 4°5'55.10" S, 137°38'47.60" E, at an elevation of approximately 13,000 feet. All four occupants suffered fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed by the impact force.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain.