Crash of a Fokker F28 Friendship 1000 in Lae

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1997 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F28 Fellowship
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ANH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wewak - Madang
MSN:
11022
YOM:
1970
Flight number:
PX129
Location:
Lae-Nadzab Tomodachi
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The flight departed Wewak Airport at 1000LT on a flight to Madang. En route, a warning light came on in the cockpit panel, informing the crew about technical problems. The crew experienced difficulties with testing the lift dumper and wheel brake antiskid systems. The pilot decided to divert to Lae-Nadzab which offered a longer runway and fire fighting facilities. After touchdown, the left main gear collapsed. The crew lost control of the airplane that veered off runway to the left and came to rest in a ditch. All 49 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N22 in Wewak

Date & Time: May 21, 1977
Type of aircraft:
GAF Nomad N.22
Operator:
Registration:
P2-DNJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
29
YOM:
1976
Location:
Wewak
Sandaun (West Sepik)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Wewak-Boram Airport. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Cessna 402 in Brugam: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 402
Operator:
Registration:
P2-GKC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Wewak - Brugam
MSN:
402-0144
YOM:
1967
Location:
Brugam
East Sepik
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Brugam Airstrip, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed on a school building. All nine occupants on board the aircraft were injured while five schoolboy were killed and four others injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Mingende: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1948
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Catholic Mission of the Holy Ghost
Registration:
VH-AMO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wewak – Mingende
MSN:
2067
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mingende
Simbu (Chimbu)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in flames while landing in Mingende. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot John Glover was killed. He was the father of the Catholic Mission of the Holy Ghost and was performing a cargo flight from Wewak to Mingende, delivering goods for the New Year's day.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Wewak

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
VH-ARI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2028
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wewak
Sandaun (West Sepik)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
780
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the right engine lost power and failed. The pilot made a turn to the left and attempted to make an emergency landing on a beach when the aircraft hit a coconut tree and crashed. The pilot was injured while five other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Testimony from the pilot:
"I drained both fuel tanks for water prior to take-off, but apparently there was still water in one. I had 5 passengers on board. I took off without trouble, but the instant we were off the starboard engine began misfiring, and it lost power fast. Because of the country I commenced a left turn, into the live engine, to try to reach the beach, but I couldn't make it. I put her down on a bit of a clearing in a sacsac swamp. The starboard wing bit a coconut palm and we slewed right around. I banged my head somewhere and got a cut scalp. The passengers were alright though. She burst into flames - was a write-off."
Source:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh84-pt2/dh84-dragon-pt2.htm
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the right engine was caused by the contamination of fuel by water.
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