What happened
A flight operated from Honiara-Henderson Airport toward Kirakira crashed on Guadalcanal Island. The aircraft was transporting 13 passengers and two crew members at the time of the accident. While cruising at an altitude of 4,100 feet, the aircraft entered an area of low visibility. During this phase of flight, the plane impacted the southern slope of Mt Nasuha, situated in the southeastern portion of the island.
Search efforts located the wreckage in a remote area three days after the impact. The accident resulted in 15 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that the crew was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) while encountering Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). Additionally, it was noted that a local Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) system was unavailable for use because it was undergoing maintenance at the time of the event. The primary factor in the collision was the operation of the aircraft in poor visibility conditions.