Airlines PNG Flight 4684
A De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, similar type of the crashed plane
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| Incident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 August 2009 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error |
| Site |
Isurava, Papua New Guinea 8°53′S 147°44′E / 8.883°S 147.733°ECoordinates: 8°53′S 147°44′E / 8.883°S 147.733°E |
| Passengers | 11 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 13 (all) |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Twin Otter |
| Operator | Airlines PNG |
| Registration | P2-MCB |
| Flight origin | Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea |
| Destination | Kokoda Airport, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea |
Airlines PNG Flight 4684 (CG4682/TOK4684) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight, operated by Papua New Guinean airliner Airlines PNG, flying from Jacksons International Airport in Papua New Guinea’s capital Port Moresby to Kokoda Airport in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. On 11 August 2009, the aircraft operating the flight, a de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, crashed and exploded into a forest in Kokoda Valley, a popular trekking site in Papua New Guinea while carrying 13 people in bad weather. A search and rescue operation was conducted by authorities and found the wreckage of the crashed plane on the next day, 12 August 2009. The aircraft was pulverized, and searchers didn’t find any signs of life. Papua New Guinean Search and Rescue Agency then announced that everyone on board were killed instantly in the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau were involved in the investigation to the cause of the crash and released its final report, concluding that the plane was crashed due to pilot error. The plane deviated from its original flight path and the visual reference in Kokoda Gap was obscured by clouds, causing the pilots to not aware of their proximity with the ground. The ATSB classified the accident as controlled flight into terrain.
The aircraft departed Jacksons International Airport at 10:50 am local time and reported to Jacksons Tower that they were climbing for 9.000 ft to Kokoda via the Kokoda Gap, with an estimated time of arrival at 11:20 am. At 11:11 am, while en route to Kokoda and on descent in Kokoda Gap, the crew of Flight 4684 conversed with the crew of an aircraft, registered P2-KST (KST), which was departing from Kokoda. There was not a single indication that the crews of Flight 4684 had any problem with their aircraft. The crew tried to land at its first attempt, but failed. The aircraft later contacted Kokoda Tower and began its go-around. Inside the ATC recording, the crew was heard saying “Thank you very much, morning long you”. This was the last communication of Flight 4684.
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Wikipedia