What happened
The incident occurred while the operator was conducting a cargo flight between Wau and Lae. The pilot initiated the takeoff roll under challenging weather conditions characterized by limited visibility due to fog. Following liftoff, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude or clearance, leading to a collision with a house while still at full power. The impact caused the airframe to crash and burst into flames. As a result of the accident, the pilot sustained serious injuries, and the owner of the struck residence was killed.
Findings
The primary contributing factor identified in the sequence of events was the decision to commence the takeoff roll in reduced visibility conditions caused by fog. This environmental constraint likely impacted the crew's spatial orientation or obstacle clearance during the initial climb phase, resulting in the mid-air collision with ground infrastructure.