Incident Overview
Date: Monday 5 November 1979
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander
Owner/operator: Douglas Airways
Registration Number: P2-ATU
Location: Huabango –
ÿ Papua New Guinea
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 10
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident due to exceeding its operational limits, resulting in multiple fatalities. The aircraft entered a valley at a low altitude and below cloud base, causing a severe crash. The pilot was performing their first solo flight on a critical route.An aircraft experienced a catastrophic accident due to exceeding its operational limits, resulting in multiple fatalities. The aircraft entered a valley at a low altitude and below cloud base, causing a severe crash. The pilot was performing their first solo flight on a critical route.
Description
The aircraft flew about 6 km beyond the destination and was observed entering Hawabanga (or Huabango) valley at a very low altitude, and at least 1500 feet below the cloud base. The height at which the aircraft entered, a safe turn around to exit the valley was beyond the performance capability of the aircraft. It struck trees in a steep banking attitude and crashed. Three persons, all of them passengers including a missionary, Brother Steven Richmond, were killed and seven others including the pilot, Phil Anderson, were injured. The pilot was mking his first solo flight on the accident route.
Source of Information
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250424326http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250424326Primary Cause
Exceeding operational limits and altitude restrictions.Exceeding operational limits and altitude restrictions.Share on:
