On July 9, 1996, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration P2-MBB) operated by Milne Bay Air - MBA was involved in an aviation accident near Mendi, Papua New Guinea during landing or approach. 20 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck a mountain slope during descent due to navigating through low-visibility weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a mountainside during its approach to Mendi Airport, resulting in the loss of all 20 people on board.
What happened
During an approach to Mendi Airport, a twin engine aircraft encountered adverse weather characterized by heavy rainfall and significantly reduced visibility. While operating at an altitude of approximately 9,200 feet, the plane collided with a mountain slope situated roughly 8 km from the start of the runway.
The force of the collision caused the airframe to break apart upon impact. There were no survivors among the 20 fatalities recorded in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was controlled flight into terrain occurring while the crew was descending through areas of poor visibility.
Probable cause
The aircraft struck a mountain slope during descent due to navigating through low-visibility weather conditions.