What happened
On 23 June 2023, a Cessna 208 Caravan, registration PK-SMW, was performing a chartered cargo and passenger flight in the Papua region of Indonesia. Operated by PT Semuwa Aviasi Mandiri Air, the aircraft was completing its fifth flight of the day. After refueling at Wamena, the aircraft departed Elelim at 10:53 LT, bound for Poik Airstrip. The flight was being monitored via the Spidertrack system by a flight operations officer in Sentani.
Around 11:00 LT, the monitoring officer noticed the aircraft had stopped moving on the tracking screen. While initial delays in data updates were sometimes attributed to network issues, the lack of movement persisted. By midday, after the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and the fuel endurance period had lapsed, authorities issued a distress message (DETRESFA) and engaged search and rescue services.
Later that afternoon, a search pilot spotted smoke near Poik Airstrip, located on a mountain ridge at an elevation of approximately 5,600 feet. Subsequent search operations confirmed the wreckage of the aircraft, which had been destroyed upon impact. The accident resulted in 6 fatalities, involving both the flight crew and four passengers.
The investigation
The Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) conducted an investigation into the wreckage and flight operations. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating within its weight and balance limits and that both pilots held valid commercial licenses and medical certificates. The aircraft also possessed a valid certificate of airworthiness.
Investigators noted that the aircraft was equipped with a Garmin G1000 suite, including a Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), though no malfunctions were reported prior to the flight. While the aircraft was equipped with a Cockpit Voice and Data Recorder (CVDR), the device was not recovered during the initial search and rescue efforts. The wreckage was located roughly 7.5 NM from Elelim Airport, having impacted a ridge in a densely vegetated area.