What happened
The incident occurred during a low-visibility cruise phase at an altitude of 14,200 feet. The aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain within the Carstensz Mountain Range. Because the plane failed to arrive at its destination in Townsville, search and rescue operations were initiated but suspended after several days without locating the aircraft or its occupants.
In June 1967, missionary Jerry Reeder discovered the wreckage while flying his Cessna 206. He had rented a house from DeLong Lumber Company, which was conducting a hardwood survey in the region. Upon learning of the discovery, the company’s superintendent arranged for a Bell Jet-Ranger helicopter to access the site. The initial attempt was aborted due to adverse weather and a partial engine failure, resulting in near-crash situations. However, the following day, the team spent two hours on the ground recovering three sets of dog tags and the pilot's chart case. These items were subsequently handed over to the Australian Embassy in Singapore one month later.
On December 10, 1970, hikers located the wreckage on a mountainside near Mt Puncak Jaya, southwest of Mulia, approximately 100 feet from the summit. Following discussions between Indonesian and Australian authorities, it was decided to repatriate all remains to Australia. This recovery operation was completed between May 23 and June 6, 2005.
Findings
The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a formal probable cause determination regarding the initial impact. The record confirms the location of the crash site and the timeline of discovery and repatriation efforts.