What happened
On 17 April 2009, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter, registered PK-LTJ, was performing a charter flight from Ilaga to Mulia in the Puncak Jaya District of Papua. Operated by PT. Mimika Air, the aircraft was transporting nine passengers, including one infant, along with one pilot and one observer. The flight was also tasked with delivering National Government election boxes. The mission was intended to be a short 18-minute trip conducted under visual flight rules.
No radio contact was established with the aircraft during its transit. When the plane failed to arrive at its destination, a search operation was initiated two minutes after the expected arrival time. On 18 April, search teams discovered the wreckage on Mt Gergaji at an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet. The crash site was situated on the direct path between the departure and arrival points. The impact, which occurred in an inverted position, caused the aircraft to be destroyed by the force of the collision and a subsequent fire. There were 11 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
While the weather in the valleys was largely clear, clouds were present over the mountain ranges along the flight path. The investigation concluded that the aircraft likely entered cloud cover while traversing the mountains. It is believed that the pilot experienced spatial disorientation after entering these instrument meteorological conditions, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent uncontrolled impact with the terrain.