Accident Overview
On a cargo flight from Popondetta to Port Moresby, pilot Geoffrey Wallace encountered poor weather conditions. While flying at an altitude of 9,400 feet, the twin-engine Piaggio aircraft struck trees and crashed on Mount Owen Stanley.
Search and Recovery
Search and rescue operations were conducted but were eventually suspended a few days later, as no trace of the aircraft or the pilot was found. In October 1970, the wreckage of the Piaggio was discovered during a search for a missing Piper Aztec.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause of the accident was that the pilot failed to follow the proper routing to Port Moresby.