What happened
The aircraft, named 'Star Duster', departed Port Moresby for Brisbane with scheduled stops at Cairns, Townsville, and Rockhampton. During the final leg of the journey, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions while cruising west of Monto. The loss of control resulted in a crash into a steep, wooded gully situated between two high hills. Because the aircraft was initially declared missing, search and rescue operations were launched but suspended after several days without success. On June 22, 1948, local residents discovered the main wreckage site. Additional debris, including the right wing, was located approximately one kilometer from the crash site in 1961, while other components such as a door and stabilizer were recovered as late as 1991.
Findings
Investigations indicated that the accident occurred during flight operations involving cargo and mail transport. The crew consisted of four military personnel, including the pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and radio operator, along with nine passengers. The official determination attributed the loss of control to structural failure caused by environmental factors.