Incident
On the day of the accident, the airplane departed Goroka at 0852 LT and proceeded toward Kainantu at an altitude of 7,500 feet. While approaching the destination, weather conditions deteriorated and visibility became limited due to low clouds. Despite the conditions, the captain decided to continue and initiated the approach. During the approach, the airplane struck a tree and crashed approximately 5 km from the airfield.
Casualties and Injuries
The accident resulted in the deaths of both pilots and six passengers. Three other passengers sustained injuries.
Investigation
An investigation was conducted to determine the circumstances of the accident. The official findings identified the probable cause.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was that the pilot persisted with such determination or confidence in his attempts to reach his destination in the face of deteriorating weather conditions, that he did not ensure he could safely discontinue the approach at any time and still maintain visual reference to the significant terrain.