Region
Oceania
code

PNG

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B-H2 Turbo Porter in Kanabea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
615
YOM:
1966
Location:
Kanabea
Gulf
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Kanabea Airstrip on a cargo flight, the single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Goroka: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UBY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the single engine airplane stalled and crashed by an airport road. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed, a pilot, a missionary and two passengers.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C in Madang

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16355/33103
YOM:
1945
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Madang Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It went out of control, veered off runway to the left and came to rest. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of technical problems with the brakes.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 300 on Mt Giluwe: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 1, 1972 at 1032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Minj - Mendi
MSN:
1840
YOM:
1968
Location:
Mt Giluwe
Western Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
4067
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,250 feet in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the northeastern slope of Mt Giluwe (14,346 feet high). At the time of the accidents, clouds (CB's) were present up to 9,000 feet and the visibility was poor. It was reported that the pilot should follow another route but was off track for unknown reason.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou inKudjeru Gap: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1972 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-233
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae - Port Moresby
MSN:
233
YOM:
1965
Location:
Kudjeru Gap
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Lae to Port Moresby, carrying three crew members and 26 cadets of the PNG Army. After passing over Wau in good weather conditions, the pilot decided to enter the Kudjeru Gap Valley when the weather conditions worsened rapidly with clouds up to 10,500 feet. At an altitude of 5,000 feet while trying to gain height, the right wing struck trees and the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain, about 50 meters below the summit. The wreckage was found three days later. Five injured passengers were evacuated but one of them died from his injuries.
Probable cause:
The pilot entered an area of low visibility and the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Wapenamanda

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-MAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madang - Wapenamanda
MSN:
11917
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wapenamanda
Enga
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Wapenamanda Airport while on a cargo flight from Madang, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing due to a fractured trunnion at the rear of the undercarriage strut.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Madang

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Madang - Mendi
MSN:
15344/26789
YOM:
1944
Location:
Madang
Madang
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Madang to Mendi. While approaching Mendi Airstrip, a failure of the hydraulic system forced the crew to return to Madang for a safe landing. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a lake. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The hydraulic failure caused the braking system to be inoperable.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 100 in Kainantu: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1970 at 0912 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Registration:
VH-TGR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mount Hagen – Goroka – Kainantu
MSN:
6
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
TN1369
Location:
Kainantu
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Aircraft flight hours:
3905
Aircraft flight cycles:
6795
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Goroka at 0852LT and continued to Kainantu at an altitude of 7,500 feet. While approaching the destination, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was limited due to low clouds. The captain decided to continue and started the approach when the airplane struck a tree and crashed 5 km from the airfield. Both pilots and six passengers were killed while three others were injured.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was that the pilot persisted with such determination or confidence in his attempts to reach his destination in the face of deteriorating weather conditions, that he did not ensure he could safely discontinue the approach at any time and still maintain visual reference to the significant terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Tapini

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1968
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-147
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
147
YOM:
1964
Location:
Tapini
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Tapini Airstrip on a supply mission. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.
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