What happened
The aircraft departed Brisbane bound for Batchelor, with an intermediate stop scheduled at Daly Waters. The flight carried ten US soldiers along with two crew members. When the plane failed to arrive at its destination as expected, search and rescue operations were immediately initiated. Four days after the disappearance, a KNILM DC-3 (registration PK-ALT) overflew the area and located the wreckage. Initial assessments indicated that all occupants had likely survived, prompting the dropping of food and water supplies from the air. Two days later, a truck reached the site, and all twelve individuals were evacuated safely.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the crew lost their spatial orientation during a night flight. Consequently, they were unable to locate the Batchelor airport. The Captain attempted an emergency landing in these conditions. Upon touchdown, the aircraft struck trees, which resulted in both wings being torn off.