Crash of a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in Kiunga

Date & Time: Dec 17, 2023 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
5Y-GOK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga - Nairobi
MSN:
208B-2278
YOM:
2011
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kiunga Airstrip, while in initial climb, the single engine airplane collided with electric wires and crashed near small houses, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire. All eight passengers were officers of the Kenyan Police returning to Nairobi.

Crash of a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL in Tekin

Date & Time: Jan 26, 2022 at 0943 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-BWC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga – Oksapmin
MSN:
136
YOM:
2007
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
14129
Captain / Total hours on type:
3625.00
Aircraft flight hours:
6752
Aircraft flight cycles:
13861
Circumstances:
The airplane was on a VFR charter flight from Kiunga Airport, Western Province to Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea. During the landing roll aircraft sustained a left main landing gear assembly collapse and subsequent runway excursion. There were seven persons onboard: one pilot and six passengers. At 09:06, P2-BWC departed Kiunga Airport and arrived at Tekin circuit area at 09:40. The pilot established the aircraft on the final approach profile, he configured the aircraft for landing by fully extending the flaps and maintained an airspeed of about 80 knots (kts). The pilot also stated that he experienced a downdraft prior to touch down. The aircraft landed at 09:43 with an airspeed of 75 knots as recalled by the pilot. The aircraft touched down about 3m short of the airstrip edge boundary. The investigation determined that due to reduced damping effect of the oleo and/or the tyre of the left main landing gear, the landing gear attachment bolts sustained significant impact stress from the landing impact force and snapped, causing the gear assembly to collapse and separate from the aircraft. Subsequently, the left wing abruptly dropped, and the aircraft began veering to the left, towards the eastern edge of the airstrip. The aircraft continued veering to the left and subsequently the left wingtip struck the outer edge of the extended right-hand flap of P2-BWE, a wreckage of the same aircraft type owned and operated by NASL that was involved in a similar accident on 18 January 2022, causing P2-BWC to abruptly veer further left and skid across the airstrip boundary as the nose-wheel and right main wheel bogged into the ground. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and evacuated the passengers with the assistance of one of the Operator’s personnel who was also a passenger on board. There were no reported injuries and the aircraft sustained significant damage.
Probable cause:
During the landing at Tekin Airstrip, the pilot encountered downdraft and touchdown about 4 metres short of the designated landing threshold. Due to less damping effect on the oleo or the tyre, the landing impact force could have transferred up through the structure and concurrently causing the left main landing gear to collapse. Subsequently, the left wing abruptly dropped and began veering to the left, towards the eastern edge of the airstrip. The aircraft continued veering to the left and subsequently the left wingtip struck the outer edge of the extended right-side flap of P2-BWE, causing it to abruptly veer further left and skid across the airstrip boundary as the nose-wheel and right main wheel bogged into the ground.
Final Report:

Crash of a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL in Tekin

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2022 at 0926 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-BWE
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga – Oksapmin
MSN:
161
YOM:
2009
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9305
Captain / Total hours on type:
332.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7549
Aircraft flight cycles:
11178
Circumstances:
The airplane was conducting a single pilot VFR charter flight from Kiunga Airport, Western Province to Tekin Airstrip, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea when during the landing roll, the aircraft sustained a left Main Landing Gear (MLG) assembly collapse and subsequent runway excursion. There were eight persons onboard: one pilot and seven passengers. At 08:43, P2-BWE departed Kiunga Airport and arrived at Tekin Airstrip circuit at 09:18. The pilot then tracked towards the Northwest of the airstrip and made a left base turn for approach. The pilot stated that he established the aircraft on final approach with an airspeed of 120 kts. He subsequently configured the aircraft for landing; propeller pitch set to full fine, power set to maintain nominated approach speed, and full flap. The pilot indicated that he reduced airspeed while on approach and maintained an airspeed between 85 and 90 kts. As he flared the aircraft to land, the airspeed was between 75 to 80 kts. The touchdown speed, as he recalled, was 75 kts. The aircraft touched down two metres short of the designated landing threshold of runway18, which had an elevation of 15cm. Reviewing the flight records of the pilot, and from his interview, the AIC deduced that the pilot was not adequately familiar with Tekin Airstrip. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged. All the passengers and pilot evacuated the aircraft without injuries.
Probable cause:
The investigation identified that during touchdown, the aircraft’s main landing gear tyre hit the 15cm elevation at the edge of runway18, resulting in the left MLG assembly weakening. The investigation determined that due to less damping effect on the oleo or the tyre, the landing impact force could have transferred up through the structure and concurrently causing the left MLG assembly to collapse. Following the collapse of the left MLG assembly, the left-wing assembly dropped and hit the ground, the flap detached and began to drag on the surface of the strip creating markings. The aircraft immediately began veering left, towards the edge (boundary) of the airstrip and impacted the drainage ditch adjacent to the runway where it came to rest.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2T Islander in Kiunga: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 2016 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P2-SBC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oksapmin – Kiunga
MSN:
3010
YOM:
1983
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Captain / Total flying hours:
4705
Captain / Total hours on type:
254.00
Aircraft flight hours:
2407
Aircraft flight cycles:
2886
Circumstances:
On the afternoon of 13 April 2016, a Pilatus Britten Norman Turbine Islander (BN-2T) aircraft, registered P2-SBC, operated by Sunbird Aviation Ltd, departed from Tekin, West Sepik Province for Kiunga, Western Province, as a charter flight under the visual flight rules. On board were the pilot-in-command (PIC) and 11 passengers (eight adults and three children). The aircraft was also carrying vegetables. The pilot reported departing Oksapmin at 13:56. The pilot had flight planned, Kiunga to Oksapmin to Kiunga. However, the evidence revealed that without advising Air Traffic Services, the pilot flew from Oksapmin to Tekin. On departure from Tekin the pilot transmitted departure details to ATS, stating departure from Oksapmin. The recorded High Frequency radio transmissions were significantly affected by static and hash. The weather at Kiunga was reported to be fine. As the aircraft entered the Kiunga circuit area, the pilot cancelled SARWATCH with Air Traffic Services (ATS). The pilot did not report an emergency to indicate a safety concern. Witnesses reported that during its final approach, the aircraft suddenly pitched up almost to the vertical, the right wing dropped, and the aircraft rolled inverted and rapidly “fell to the ground”. It impacted the terrain about 1,200 metres west of the threshold of runway 07. The impact was vertical, with almost no forward motion. The aircraft was destroyed, and all occupants were fatally injured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft’s centre of gravity was significantly aft of the aft limit. When landing flap was set, full nose-down elevator and elevator trim was likely to have had no effect in lowering the nose of the aircraft. Unless the flaps had been retracted immediately, the nose-up pitch may also have resulted in tail plane stall, exacerbating the pitch up. The wings stalled, followed immediately by the right wing dropping. Recovery from the stall at such a low height was not considered possible.
Other factors:
Other factors is used for safety deficiencies or concerns that are identified during the course of the investigation, that while not causal to the accident, nevertheless should be addressed with the
aim of accident and serious incident prevention, and the safety of the travelling public.
a) Following the reweighing of SBC, the operator did not make adjustments to account for the shift of the moment arm as a result of the reweighing. Specifically, a reduction of allowable maximum weight in the baggage compartment.
b) The pilot, although signing the flight manifest on previous flights attesting that the aircraft was loaded within c of g limits, had not computed the c of g. No documentation was available to confirm that the pilot had computed the c of g for the accident flight, or any recent flights.
c) All of the High Frequency radio transmissions between Air Traffic Services and SBC were significantly affected by static interference and a lot of hash, making reception difficult, and many transmissions unclear and unreadable. This is a safety concern to be addressed to ensure that vital operational radio transmissions are not missed for the safety of aircraft operations, and the travelling public.
Final Report:

Crash of a PAC-750XTOL in Golgubip

Date & Time: Jul 19, 2014 at 1143 LT
Operator:
Registration:
P2-RNB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kiunga – Golgubip
MSN:
190
YOM:
2013
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2930
Captain / Total hours on type:
1900.00
Aircraft flight hours:
143
Circumstances:
A Pacific Aerospace PAC P-750 XTOL single engine aircraft was chartered to transport store goods and six passengers from Kiunga to Golgubip. Although Golgubip is in mountainous terrain and the weather in the area is often poor, the pilot was tasked to fly there without ever having been to Golgubip before. The terrain to the north north east of Golgubip rises gradually behind the airstrip. Visual illusions which may affect the pilot’s perception of height and distance can be associated with airstrips situated in terrain of this kind. On arrival at Golgubip, the pilot orbited and positioned the aircraft for landing. During the final approach he decided to discontinue the approach and to initiate a go-around procedure. The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 500 metres northwest of the airstrip and was substantially damaged. The six passengers were unhurt while the pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot was treated in Golgubip following the accident, and was airlifted the next day to Tabubil, where he was admitted to hospital. It was later reported that the GPWS alarm sounded on approach until the final impact.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach, maybe following visual illusions.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-4A Caribou in Kiunga: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1995
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
P2-VTC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Port Moresby – Tabubil
MSN:
13
YOM:
1960
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While descending to Tabubil Airport on a cargo flight from Port Moresby, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to divert to Kiunga. While approaching Kiunga, the right engine failed, followed shortly later by the left engine. The aircraft lost height, struck trees and crashed 5 km from the airport. One pilot survived while both other occupants were killed. The aircraft was leased to the Vanimo Trading Company.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reasons. The assumption of a fuel starvation seems excluded.

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m in Kiunga

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PK-AFF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Batavia - Kiunga
MSN:
5188
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties.