What happened
During the departure phase from Lae-Nadzab Airport, the aircraft experienced a loss of power in one of its engines immediately following liftoff. In response to the mechanical failure, the crew initiated an emergency descent to locate a suitable landing site.
The flight crew directed the plane toward an open pasture to perform an emergency touchdown. During this maneuver, one wing made contact with an obstacle on the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to perform a belly landing, eventually coming to a complete stop in the field.
Despite the force of the landing and the wing strike, there were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the primary factor was an engine failure occurring during the initial climb. The specific underlying reason for the loss of power in the engine remains undetermined.