What happened
On 20 September 2014, a DHC-6 Twin Otter was performing a charter flight from Woitape to Jacksons Airport in Port Moresby. While the weather at the departure point was clear, the destination was experiencing rain and low cloud cover. During the descent, air traffic control instructed the flight crew to maintain visual separation from the terrain while transitioning to a left base position for runway 14R.
As the aircraft approached within 9.5 nm of the airport, the pilot in command informed the tower that the aircraft was encountering cloud and requested to utilize the instrument landing system (ILS). Despite the ATIS information requiring an ILS approach for arrivals, the crew did not request the necessary radar vectoring to intercept the approach properly. During the descent, the pilot instructed the co-pilot to continue the descent, despite an incorrect assessment of the aircraft's position relative to the terrain. The aircraft subsequently struck the summit area of Mt Lawes, causing significant damage to the airframe.
Findings
- The accident resulted in four fatalities and one subsequent death from injuries, alongside three serious injuries and two minor injuries among the survivors.
- The pilot in command had not completed an ILS proficiency check within the required three-month window mandated by PNG Civil Aviation Rule 61.807.
- Loss of situational awareness by the flight crew led to the continuation of the descent into mountainous terrain.
- The pilot's assessment of the aircraft's location was inaccurate during the final stages of the flight.