Accident description
Last updated: 22 May 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 18 JUL 1997 |
| Time: | 10:32 |
| Type: | de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 |
| Operator: | Goroka Air Services |
| Registration: | P2-MMU |
| C/n / msn: | 250 |
| First flight: | 1969 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 4 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 8,3 km (5.2 mls) NE of Goroka Airport (GKA) (Papua New Guinea)
 |
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Kundiawa-Chimbu Airport (CMU), Papua New Guinea |
| Goroka Airport (GKA/AYGA), Papua New Guinea |
The Twin Otter departed Chimbu at 10:02 for a flight to Goroka. Weather was poor with low clouds and rain. Other aircraft had diverted to Madang, but the Twin Otter crew continued. At 10:08 the crew reported 10 miles west of Goroka at 13000 feet. Nine minutes later the plane was overhead Goroka (airfield elevation 5208 feet.) The aircraft descended east of the field until it collided with Mount Yasirua at 7400 feet.
After the accident, pilots were reminded to observe the Visual Flight Rules at locations where there are no published instrument flying procedures, and not to use GPS for primary navigation purposes.
Events:
Sources:
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Kundiawa-Chimbu Airport to Goroka Airport as the crow flies is 47 km (29 miles).
Distance from Kundiawa-Chimbu Airport to Goroka Airport as the crow flies is 47 km (29 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
