Country
Papua New Guinea
code

Eastern Highlands

Crash of a Cessna 404 Titan II in Goroka

Date & Time: May 19, 2007
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 404 Titan
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ALK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
404-0222
YOM:
1978
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:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight, the pilot started the approach to Goroka Airport in poor weather conditions. After landing on runway 17R, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest few dozen metres further. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fletcher FU-24-950M near Goroka: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 2002 at 1525 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fletcher FU-24
Operator:
Registration:
P2-SDG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Karimui – Goroka
MSN:
18
YOM:
1955
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
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, sole on board, was completing a cargo flight from Karimui to Goroka. While approaching Goroka, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Kaw Kaw Gap, about 30 km south of Goroka. The pilot was killed.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P2 Bandeirante in Goroka: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1999 at 0852 LT
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ALX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lae - Goroka
MSN:
110-210
YOM:
1979
Flight number:
ND120
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Lae-Nadzab Airport at 0820LT on a flight to Goroka, carrying 15 passengers and two pilots. While descending in marginal weather conditions at an altitude of 8,500 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 20 km east-southeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all 17 occupants were killed, among them two Dutch citizens.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the crew continued the descent to Goroka under VFR mode in IMC conditions. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was one km off course and at an insufficient altitude (minimum altitude is fixed at 14,000 feet).

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 in Goroka: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1997 at 1032 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
Operator:
Goroka Air Services
Registration:
P2-MMU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Mount Hagen - Chimbu - Goroka
MSN:
250
YOM:
1969
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Chimbu to Goroka, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls and fog. Other crew diverted to Madang Airport but the crew decided to continue. While flying at an altitude of 7,400 feet in limited visibility, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Yasirua located 7,2 km northeast of Goroka Airport. A pilot and a passenger survived while both other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-20 Islander in Oumba: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1996 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
P2-ISD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Menyamya – Marawaka
MSN:
582
YOM:
1977
Location:
Oumba
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Menyamya to Marawaka, weather conditions deteriorated while the pilot was flying in a deep valley. He elected to find a hole in the clouds to leave the area when, at a speed of 80 knots, the aircraft stalled, collided with trees and crashed on hilly terrain. A passenger was killed while nine other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The pilot failed to monitor his speed indicator and failed to realize the speed dropped while trying to get out of a deep valley.

Crash of an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante near Goroka: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1992
Type of aircraft:
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante
Operator:
Registration:
P2-RDS
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Madang - Goroka
MSN:
110-355
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
GV709
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While descending to Goroka Airport in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 16 km from the airport, near Daulo Pass. Four passengers were seriously injured while 11 other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew initiated the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to descent below the MDA. Lack of visibility was a contributing factor.

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 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 Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Goroka

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BNL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lae – Goroka
MSN:
270
YOM:
1943
Location:
Goroka
Eastern Highlands
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The day prior to the accident, while on a cargo flight from Lae to Goroka, the pilot Frank J. Goosens was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field located five miles southeast of Goroka due to poor visibility. After he spent the night in the aircraft, he decided to leave the area bound for Goroka when, during the takeoff roll, the left wing hit an earth mound. The aircraft crashed, injuring the pilot.

Crash of a Simmonds Spartan Cirrus III in Benabena

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Simmonds Spartan
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UKQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
05
YOM:
1929
Location:
Goroka
Eastern 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 single engine aircraft was engaged in the region of Kaitantu to evacuate wounded people. En route, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Benabena, near Goroka. All occupants survived while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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