Region
Oceania
code

PNG

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6H/H2 Turbo Porter in Terapo

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PNF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Terapo - Terapo
MSN:
580
YOM:
1965
Location:
Terapo
Gulf
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Stalled and crashed shortly after takeoff from Terapo Airstrip while on a local cargo flight. The passenger was slightly injured while the pilot was seriously wounded.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou in Porgera

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1965
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
Operator:
Registration:
A4-202
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
202
YOM:
1964
Location:
Porgera
Enga
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 Porgera Airfield, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and eventually collided with an embankment. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Daru

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
VH-WWC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1859
YOM:
1944
Location:
Daru
Western (Fly)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged on landing off Daru and sank. All 11 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter near Mount Hagen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1961
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SBS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
253
YOM:
1958
Location:
Mount Hagen
Western Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet on a cargo flight, the single engine airplane struck the ground and crashed near the Nebilyer Valley, about 65 km from Mount Hagen. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter off Samarai Island

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1961
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-3 Otter
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SBQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
241
YOM:
1958
Location:
Samarai Island
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft off the Samarai Island. After landing, the airplane drifted to rocks and was damaged beyond repair. All nine occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Loss of power in flight due to a cylinder failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Bereina

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PAT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Kundiawa
MSN:
16494/33242
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bereina
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the crew informed ground about an in-flight fire and elected to divert to Bereina for an emergency landing. As the crew was unable to extinguish the fire, the airplane landed on fire and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were able to evacuate safely while the airplane burned for about 24 hours before being totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the fire was caused incorrectly packed chemicals.

Crash of a Piaggio P.166 in Mt Owen Stanley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Piaggio P.166 Albatross
Operator:
Registration:
VH-PAU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Popondetta – Port Moresby
MSN:
366
YOM:
1960
Location:
Mt Owen Stanley
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Geoffrey Wallace was performing a cargo flight from Popondetta to Port Moresby and encountered poor weather conditions en route. At an altitude of 9,400 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck trees and crashed on Mt Owen Stanley. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. In October 1970, while searching for a missing Piper Aztec, the wreckage of the Piaggio was found.
Probable cause:
It was reported the pilot failed to follow the proper routing to Port Moresby.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Kuli: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
VH-GSC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Minj – Mendi
MSN:
252
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kuli
All Papua New Guinea
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 2,285 meters in bad weather conditions, the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located a mile away from Kuli. The wreckage was found two days later and both occupants were killed, the pilot Cpt Desmond J. Gleeson and a native passenger.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Wau

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-92
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16139/32887
YOM:
1945
Location:
Wau
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a navigation exercise on behalf of the 38th Squadron. On approach to Wau, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the jungle. All eight crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Baiyer River

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BUU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7256
YOM:
1941
Location:
Baiyer River
Western Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot landed with a high tailwind component. After touchdown, the three engine aircraft veered off the airstrip and struck an embankment. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane came to rest on its belly. There were no injuries among the occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source & photos:
http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/junkers ju52/junkersju52.html
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