Sandaun (West Sepik) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On approach to Bimin-Wobagen Airport runway 30, the twin engine aircraft lost height and crashed in a wooded area. Both pilots (New Zealand citizens) were killed instantly and all 11 other occupants were injured, some seriously. They walk away to the village to find help and receive care. The aircraft has a single 11/29 grass/dirt runway located at an altitude of 1,767 metres and offer a 10° slope. Runway 29 is for landing only and runway 11 for takeoff only.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Kilifas: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1985

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

P2-DNI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

YOM:

1968

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the twin engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Kilifas, northwest of PNG. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a GAF Nomad N22B near Bewani: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 4, 1981

Type of aircraft:

GAF Nomad N.22

Operator:

Registration:

P2-011

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Imonda – Vanimo

MSN:

YOM:

1977

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3000

Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Vanimo from Imonda where a group of soldiers was dropped for an Irian Jaya border patrol. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when the airplane crashed in the Bewani Mountain Range. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj John Tasi Miria,
Lt Emmanual Skolki.

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:

YOM:

1976

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Wewak-Boram Airport. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near Housecap: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1945 at 0800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

A65-39

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Aitape – Maprik

MSN:

12361

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Aitape-Tadji Airport at 0635LT on a supply mission to Maprik. Enroute, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain near Housecap. The wreckage was spotted by the pilot of a Beaufort the same day at 1330LT. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (38th Squadron):
F/Lt S. C. Akers,
F/Sgt J. W. Lawson,
Sgt W. J. McInroy.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK near But: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1945 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

A65-34

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Aitape-Tadji - Aitape-Tadji

MSN:

12250

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1742

Circumstances:

The crew left Aitape-Tadji Airfield on a supply mission to the Malin-Walum area located west of Wewak. Enroute, the aircraft crashed and burned near But and was totally destroyed. Four crew members and two passengers were killed. Two crewmen were seriously injured.
Crew (36th Squadron):
S/L L. K. Jackson, pilot,
F/Lt K. R. C. Mathews, copilot, †
F/Sgt D. G. Campbell, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Pvt J. G. Law,
Sgt H. M. Whaling, †
Pvt E. J. Collins. †
Passengers:
Cpl A. E. Guy, †
Cpl K. Harden. †