What happened
On 28 June 2022, at approximately 01:53 UTC, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4, registration PK-RCQ, was involved in an accident near the Senggeh Airstrip in Papua, Indonesia. The aircraft, operated by PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA), departed from Pending Airstrip with the intention of landing at Sentani International Airport.
During the approach to Sentani International Airport, the pilot attempted two missed approaches due to prevailing weather conditions. Following these unsuccessful attempts, the flight was diverted toward Senggeh Airport. While flying approximately 6 nautical miles northwest of Senggeh, the aircraft ran out of fuel. The pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing on an unpaved road, resulting in severe damage to the aircraft. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported among the pilot or the six passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation into the incident was initiated by the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) of Indonesia. The inquiry focused on the sequence of events leading to the diversion and the subsequent depletion of fuel reserves during the flight operations in the Papua region.