What happened
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase immediately after departure from Lae-Nadzab Airport. An engine failure was experienced by the aircraft shortly after liftoff. The pilot subsequently lost control of the machine, which descended and impacted an island situated within the Markham River, located south of the airport.
All 37 occupants were killed in the accident. Post-accident assessments indicated that the passengers consisted of local farmers who had been seated in the main cabin area without the use of seats or seat belts.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the total weight of the aircraft at the time of the accident did not exceed its maximum takeoff weight. Despite this, the specific technical cause of the engine failure could not be determined with certainty by the inquiry.