What happened
On the morning of 12 May 2020, a Quest Kodiak 100, registration PK-MEC, departed Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Papua, for a scheduled cargo flight to Mamit Airstrip. The aircraft, operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship, was carrying 694 kgs of cargo with a single pilot on board.
Shortly after takeoff from runway 12, the pilot issued a "MAYDAY" call over the Jayapura Radar frequency. Following this emergency declaration, the Jayapura Radar controller attempted to establish contact with the aircraft four times, but received no response. During the search for the aircraft, the pilot of another departing aircraft, PK-RCE, observed debris floating on Sentani Lake and noted boats moving toward the site, suggesting a water impact.
Search and rescue teams eventually located the wreckage on the lake bed. The pilot, a 40-year-old US citizen, was recovered from the aircraft by divers and transported to a hospital, but the pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft suffered substantial damage, including the detachment of the engine forward section and parts of both wings.
The investigation
The KNKT investigation focused on the sequence of events following the emergency call and the condition of the aircraft. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, possessed valid registration and airworthiness certificates, and was operating within its weight and balance limits at the time of departure.
Technical examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine forward section, from the propeller to flange B, had separated from the airframe. The investigation also involved the recovery of the Garmin G1000 GPS data card to analyze the flight profile. Because the aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, investigators are relying on GPS data and engine testing to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Findings
- The aircraft departed Sentani Airport in daylight conditions.
- The pilot declared an emergency via radio just one minute after takeoff.
- The aircraft impacted Sentani Lake approximately 3,300 meters from the end of runway 30.
- The wreckage was recovered from the lake bed, with significant structural separation noted in the wings and engine assembly.