Incident Overview
A cargo flight originating from Madang was en route to Mendi Airstrip when a failure of the hydraulic system occurred during the approach to Mendi. The crew elected to return to Madang, where they performed a safe landing. However, after touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance, overran the end of the strip, and came to rest in a lake.
Occupants and Injuries
All three occupants on board escaped uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond economical repair.
Hydraulic System Failure
The hydraulic system failure rendered the braking system inoperable, which prevented the aircraft from decelerating as expected after landing. The loss of braking capability directly contributed to the aircraft's inability to stop within the available runway length.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be a failure of the hydraulic system.
