What happened
On 9 August 2008, a Pilatus Porter PC-6 B2-H4, registered PK-RCZ, departed from Taive II, Papua, destined for NduNdu. Operated by the Association of Mission Aviation (AMA), the flight was intended to be conducted under visual flight rules (VFR), requiring the pilot to remain clear of clouds and navigate by visual reference to the terrain.
After the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, search efforts were initiated. While search aircraft were able to detect the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal, heavy weather prevented immediate access to the site. The wreckage was eventually located at an elevation of 6,400 feet on the slope of an 11,000-foot mountain near the NduNdu Pass. The impact was so severe that the aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, weather conditions, and the aircraft's operational status. Investigators found that the aircraft was properly maintained, airworthy, and that the pilot was fully licensed and qualified for the mission. The aircraft was carrying 60 kilograms of cargo at the time of the accident.
Analysis of the wreckage and the flight track revealed that the crash site was situated approximately 200 feet to the east of the intended southerly track through the pass. The investigation focused on the transition from visual to instrument meteorological conditions during the flight segment.