Accident Overview
On 30 March, a cargo aircraft (operating as flight ND304) departed Port Moresby at 0402 local time bound for Hoskins, New Britain, and ultimately Rabaul. The flight was carrying newspapers and general freight. The aircraft had been refueled with 640 litres of Jet-A1 the previous day. The flight plan stated total fuel on board as 2,100 pounds (1,208 litres).
Flight Planning and Weather
The planned route was Port Moresby to Hoskins, with subsequent sectors. The pilot-in-command obtained an area forecast that indicated rain and scattered cloud from 1500 to 5000 feet, with deteriorating conditions forecast for 0400-0800 hours. The forecast required 30 minutes holding fuel in addition to flight and statutory fuel requirements. These conditions were described as normal for the destination at that time of year.
Flight Progress
The aircraft initially climbed to Flight Level 140 (14,000 ft), which was 300 feet above the lowest safe altitude on the initial track between Port Moresby and Girua. The lowest safe altitude between Girua and the en-route reporting point Maran was 3,300 ft; the pilot had planned to cruise at 9,000 ft. The sector between Maran and Hoskins was planned at 9,000 ft with a lowest safe altitude of 8,300 ft.
Communications with Nadzab Flight Service were conducted via HF radio and a VHF repeater near Popondetta. Nadzab Flight Service was not operational at the time of departure; it opened at 0540. At 0506, the crew made a position report (intercepted by Port Moresby Flight Service) stating they were overhead Maran at FL 110 (11,000 ft), which was 2,000 ft higher than planned, with an estimated arrival time at Hoskins of 0540. Port Moresby Flight Service relayed this information to Nadzab after it opened.
Accident Event
The Maran report was the last recorded radio contact. No transmission indicating a descent below FL 110 was heard, and no MAYDAY was reported. When the crew failed to report arrival at Hoskins, a search began. At 0650, a DISTRESFA Search and Rescue Phase was declared. Later that morning, a coastal logging company reported a crash east of Kandrian.
Wreckage and Investigation
The wreckage was found 27 km east of Kandrian at an elevation of 780 ft (coordinates 06° 11′ 39.8″ S, 149° 52′ 58.9″ E). The aircraft had collided with trees and terrain, leaving a 500-meter wreckage trail. Both crew members did not survive the impact. The time of the accident was estimated at about 0523.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the reason the crew were unable to maintain level flight above the en-route lowest safe altitude with one engine inoperative, and subsequently impacted terrain, could not be determined.