SAPMANGA PRELIMINARY REPORT RELEASED

By Nigel MADO

The PNG Accident investigation Commission has released its preliminary report on the Britten Norman BN–2B–26 Islander aircraft, operated by North Coast Aviation Limited, that tragically crashed on December 22, 2024, during a single-pilot charter flight from Wasu to Nadzab. All passengers and the pilot were fatally injured, and the aircraft was destroyed by the impact and a post-crash fire.

Initial investigations at the crash site revealed the aircraft struck the forest canopy at an altitude of 8,000 feet, clipping a tree with its right wing before crashing to the ground. Evidence indicates the aircraft was traveling at engine-powered speeds at the time of impact. The collision ignited onboard fuel, causing a fire that consumed much of the aircraft.

According to the report, the flight, operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), departed Wasu at approximately 10:21 AM local time (00:21 UTC). According to data from the operator’s V2 tracking system, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 8,002 feet and was last recorded northeast of Sapmanga at a speed of 85 knots. At 10:26:59, communication was lost with the aircraft.

The Nadzab Approach Controller attempted to re-establish contact at 10:44 but received no response. Shortly after, the Aviation Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) detected an emergency COSPAS-SARSAT distress signal at 10:30. A distress phase was declared at 10:47, prompting a search and rescue (SAR) mission.

A search helicopter dispatched by Manalos Aviation initially faced challenges due to poor weather and cloud cover in the Sapmanga area. SAR operations were temporarily suspended on December 22 but resumed the following day. On December 23, the helicopter pilot located the wreckage approximately 32 nautical miles northeast of Nadzab on the mountain ranges east of the Sapmanga Valley.

Adverse weather delayed access to the crash site until December 24, when a doctor involved in the operation confirmed there were no survivors. The recovery of all victims was completed on December 31, following arduous efforts by teams trekking to the site and being winched in by helicopter.