Minor hiccups for Dash 8 in SI ops

Source: The National,Tuesday17 January 2012

SOLOMON Airlines says an Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft it leases will have to limit its operations because of minor technical issues.
“There are two issues identified with the Dash 8 - one is the HF radio, which is integral to all operations for aircraft in this region and the second is to do with the GPS,” Solomon Airlines said in a statement.
It said the HF radio issue had been an ongoing one where the routes that were close to Henderson Airport in Honiara were the only ones able to communicate with the flight service centre.
“With distant areas, when the aircraft reach cruise levels, the radio communication is rendered inoperable. So, for the safety of the travelling public, the Dash 8 is unable to operate such routes,” it said.
On the global positioning system, the airline said it was not picking up vital data on longer routes such as to Lata.
“In the past couple of weeks, we have been awaiting information from Airlines PNG on a permanent fix to this issue to have full operational use of the Dash 8 again. This has not been forthcoming. – The Solomon Times

DNA tests confirm 22 on ill-fated flight

Source: The National, Thursday 15th December 2011

By ANGELINE KARIUS
 
TWENTY-TWO passengers who died in the Airlines PNG Dash 8 crash in October have been positively identified by DNA testing.
And the repatriation of their bodies will now depend on the coroner who this week was given results of the DNA tests.
Chief of police forensic science services Supt Philip Rambaliku said the identification was carried out by the disaster victim identification team from the Australian federal police.
Those identified are: Jeffery Ako, Simon Tiriman, Christine Matlam, Natasha Bonga, Miria Renagi, Samuel Bid, Debura Rabura, Cicilia Wata, Chloe Matlam, Paul Konia, Jenny Lyne Bal, Lukas Bako, Thomas Kuekue, Saron Doma, Benedict Kanaiu, Michael Hampri, Bill Ase, Philip Barnabas, Robert Sanglela, Mark Save, Bernard James and Langa Divu Mova.
He said the results were sent to the police criminal investigation department team headed by Stephen Yalamu with specific instructions to deliver the file to the coroner, because the case was still before the coroner.
He said the repatriation of the bodies would follow as soon as the co­roner approved the warrant to have the bodies buried. The families are waiting for the warrant.
Rambaliku said new blood samples had to be collected from two other passengers, Jeffery Bula and Ian Gagi.
“The first samples taken did not match and so we had to collect new ones,” he said.
He said the samples were collected last week and would be sent shortly to Canberra for testing.
“The forensic team in Port Moresby will keep working until the others are positively identified and cleared including Coltide Bula and Nathan Bonga,” he said.
He said David Olobai was likely to be the last body to be identified as he had no family members alive to collect DNA samples from.
Rambaliku denied that the remaining five yet to be identified could be cited as “missing persons”.
“That is not true. I believe the hospital will have to put aside the remaining bodies until further tests are carried out and results are given,” he said.
Yalamu confirmed receiving the file and delivering it to the coroner on Monday.

Dash 8 cleared

source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

AIRLINES PNG Dash 8 aircraft have returned to service but on strict

conditions.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) PNG yesterday cleared the 11 aircraft following preliminary findings of the investigations into the catastrophic Dash 8 crash of Oct 13 in Madang in which 28 out of 32 people on board perished.

The directive required more frequent inspections and test on the propeller governor and power lever systems and, within 120 days, the installation of components that will ensure a failure that occurred in Madang is not repeated.
The new parts will cost US$20,000 per aircraft and some 120 man hours to install in each aircraft.
As more information becomes available, CASA (Australia), which had been monitoring the investigations in PNG with interest, might apply the same airworthiness directive to include Australian operators of Dash 8.
APNG announced it had already placed orders for the parts with Bombardier of Canada.
Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said CASA’s decision was made in consultation with the aircraft manufacturer, Canadian authorities and the accident investigation commission.
Ruing said the CASA directive now required all Dash 8 operators, inclu­ding Air Niugini, to comply.
There are presently 21 Dash 8 aircraft operating in PNG owned mostly by APNG and Air Niugini.
While a preliminary investigation report has not been made available, it is understood the airworthiness directive affected Dash 8 series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft operating in PNG.
It is understood that a component failure on the aircraft had caused the propellers to go too fast resulting in both engines failing.
This, initially, absolved Airlines PNG of any fault mechanical or human error.
Airlines PNG said yesterday its grounded fleet had undergone extensive maintenance checks and would resume both charter and passenger ope­rations today.
“Airlines PNG have been very cooperative with the authority to make the necessary safety changes to their operations in order for the authority to allow the return of their Dash 8 fleet to service,” Ruing said.
“This return-to-service will be in a progressive manner over the next two weeks and has some imposed conditions pertaining to operational procedures and training.”
Ruing said these were the imme­diate steps being taken in the interests of aviation safety, however, further safety action could be required as more information became available.
The authority, assisted by CASA Australia, would continue to monitor the safety performance of the airline through audits and surveillance.
Airlines PNG chairman Simon Wild said: “We thank the safety authorities for their tireless efforts which have confirmed the safety of our aircraft and systems.
“We have always been confident that the integrity of our safety practices would be confirmed by rigorous scrutiny.”
“While a full investigation is continuing, preliminary evidence pointed to a component failure through no fault of the airline which resulted in
the loss of power to both engines,
leaving the flight crew with no alternatives but to attempt an emergency landing.
“In accordance with recommendations from the safety authorities, steps have been taken to ensure such failure did not take place on any of our aircraft, and we understand that all other Dash 8 operators in PNG are implementing the same safeguards,” Wild said.

Experts face ID problems

Source: The National - Friday, October 28th 2011

FORENSIC experts who left Madang last weekend have said not all of the remaining 27 victims of the fatal air crash of Oct 13 will be identified.
This was the revelation received yesterday from Modilon General Hospital director of medical services Dr Billy Selve.
He said the ante-mortem and post-mortem works already undertaken with added personal information from relatives were collated but difficulties in obtaining dental and other medical records would make positive identification difficult.
A morgue attendant, Boston Jack, who assisted the Australian team, said poor dental and medical filing records of most public hospitals throughout the country made all efforts of piecing together vital information during the post-mortem hard.
Selve said the experts found it difficult in piecing missing limbs or teeth to skulls without the primary identification which included the dental records, DNA or fingerprints and medical history papers.
“These are inconclusive results. None that I spoke to had anything obvious as to what belonged to whom.
“We have very bad dental records in the country in terms of who had an extraction or filling done and at what hospital. Calling them for verification is another headache when all you end up with is a medical card that says they came in with only flu or fever,” he said.
Another difficulty had been the financial burden on relatives paying their own way into Madang from other centres.

Four travelled with swapped airline tickets

Source: Post Courier, Wednesday October 25, 2011

By ROSALYN ALBANIEL-EVARA
WORK by forensic personnel in Madang have revealed a total of four people had travelled on that ill-fated Airlines PNG Dash Eight flight using tickets which did not belong to them.
Reports which had surfaced soon after the crash at Marakum on Thursday October 13 had initially revealed that two people had made the swap which had cost them their life.
However, yesterday police revealed there to be an additional two more bringing the total to four the number of people who had made the deadly swap.
Madang’s Officer in Charge of Criminal Investigations Division Steven Yalamu said the initial two were Bernard James who had travelled as Petrus Akau and Divu Langa who had that day travelled as Ronald Dibi.
Mr Yalamu said the other two passengers who had also made the deadly swap were Michael Amphry who travelled as Otte Samson and Ase Bill who travelled as Saiyong Anki whose names had appeared on the flight manifest which had been released by APNG.
He said it is understood these passengers had boarded at Nadzab and were all employees of a Kimbe based firm named as Bismark Enterprise.
He said the discoveries were made after police released a list last Friday calling on relatives of the remaining 10 victims who had not provided anti-mortem samples to be sent to Australia to help experts positively identify the remains of the 28 passengers who perished in that fatal accident off the South of Raicoast.
He said the relatives of these victims were all based in Kimbe and that they would be making their way to Kimbe to give samples.
Mr Yalamu said the relatives of another of the crash victims named as Keukeu Thomas had travelled in from Port Moresby and had given samples and these would also be sent to Australia for DNA tests to be carried out so that his remains could be identified.
Meanwhile Mr Yalamu also confirmed that the remains of Sidi Abore, was cleared last Friday by authorities for release.
He said the Late Mr Abore’s relatives from Siar had taken his remains to Funeral Home and yesterday taken to his Siar village where he was farewelled and buried.

Dash 8 fate to be known this week

Source: The National-Tuesday, 25th October 2011

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
A DECISION whether to allow Airlines PNG to reintroduce its Dash 8 aircraft into service will be made by Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Puri Ruing said yesterday.
The airline’s remaining 12 Dash 8 aircraft were grounded by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) following the fatal crash near Madang on Oct 13 that claimed 28 lives.
The airline had been allowed to resume its Twin Otter operations to full capacity, resuming services to some communities severely affected by the reduced operations.
Ruing, who held a joint media conference with CASA chief executive officer Wilson Spate, Air Investigation Commission’s chief executive officer David Inau, CASA chief operating officer John Bromley and prime minister’s chief of staff Ben Micah, said a tho­rough investigation was being carried out.
He said a decision would be made by the end of the week whether to lift the suspension on the Dash 8 aircraft, considering the importance of services provided to the public and resource developers.
But, he said: “Safety issues are a priority at the moment.
“The authority is cognisant of the commercial pressures and the disruptions to passenger services but we must make a safety decision after we are in receipt of all available information to support our decision,” Ruing said.
He said CASA had been helping the AIC in providing resources to investigate the accident.
“The authority has discussed at length its proposed safety actions that could be taken regarding the Dash 8 fleet.
“Those safety actions focused on power level checks, propeller checks and the associated airworthiness directives that would need to be issued, including changes to the operational pre-procedures and training are being considered.
“This is a safety-related decision that the authority will make and requires the support of the manufacturer and the type certificate holder.
“The investigation has raised serious airworthiness implications for
the Dash 8 fleet
worldwide arising
out of this accident.”
He said two issues arising out of this accident were airworthiness and operating procedures.
“A decision whether to allow the Dash 8 aircraft to commence operations will be made on Thursday.
“If the decision is made by the authori­ty, arrangements are in
place with the Civil Aviation to assist in conducting operational surveillance and audits of Airlines PNG.”
Ruing said the CAA, through AIC and CASA, assisted by the Australian Federal Police, forensic experts, Australian Air Safety Authority and the Canadian manufacturers, had helped “in a very thorough investigation that is progressing well”.

Statistics of PNG’s plane crashes

Source; Post Courier, Thursday October 20, 2011By TODAGIA KELOLA
PAPUA New Guinea had 116 aircraft accidents, with 51 fatalities since January 1, 2000. This includes last week’s tragic Airlines PNG Dash 8 crash in Madang that left 28 dead and four survivors.
That was from the Aviation Safety Network- through Flight Safety Foundation statistics on aircraft accidents in PNG since 2000. Last week’s Madang crash was the worst with 28 deaths followed by another PNG Airlines aircraft DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, which crashed in 2009 at Kokoda that saw 13 people killed.
The other aircraft accidents listed on the Aviation Safety Network are a North Coast Aviation owned Islander which crashed in April, 2000, at Bapi Airport that left four dead; an Islands Airways owned Islander, crashed in December, 2002, near Teptep that left eight dead; an Airlines PNG Twin Otter crashed in July, 2004, near Ononge leaving two people killed; a MAF owned Twin Otter crashed in February, 2005, near Wobegon two killed; an Airlink owned Bandeirante crashed in March, 2007, near Kandrian killing two; Airlines PNG owned Twin Otter crashed in August, 2009, near Kokoda killing 13; Trans Air owned Cessna crashed August, 2010, at Misima Airport, killing four; and the recent Airlines PNG Dash 8 in Madang with 28 killed.
Attempts to talk to the newly established Accidents Investigation Commission about the investigations that they had completed since 2008 were unsuccessful because their technical staff were at the crash site in Madang

Death list duo alive and well

Source: The National - Wednesday, October 19th 2011

By FRANK SENGE KOLMA

INVESTIGATIONS into the Madang Dash 8 crash has taken a bizarre twist with revelations that two of the “dead” passengers were in fact not on the ill-fated flight last Thursday.
The two, Petrus Akau and Ronald Bibi, named on the flight manifest, are very much alive, investigators have learned.
Akau and Bibi had given their tickets to two other passengers who Madang provincial police commander last night named as Bernard James (for Akau) and Divu Langa (for Bibi).
In its attempt to contact all 28 relatives of persons on the manifest of Dash 8 aircraft, Airlines PNG turned up two passengers whose names were on the manifest but who had given away their tickets to two other persons.
This revelation further complicates the already difficult process of establishing the identity of all the 28 bodies that have been badly charred in the fiery crash near Marakum village in the Raicoast area.
Whether they are relatives who were offered the tickets or other persons who bought the tickets off the two passengers on the flight manifest remained a mystery.

All News Update on Madang APNG Dash 8 Crash

Passenger list released

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

AIRLINES PNG grounded its remaining 11 Dash 8 aircraft last Friday while investigations started into last Thursday’s horrific crash that claimed 28 lives.
Eleven of the 28 people on the ill-fated flight were parents and family members of students at the Divine Word University who had gone to participate in a thanksgiving ceremony last Friday.
The university held a candle-lit vigil in remembrance over the weekend.

Report blames ‘bad fuel’

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

CONTAMINATED fuel may have caused the Dash 8 crash, according to The Australian newspaper.

The twin-turbo aircraft crashed at the mouth of the Gogol River, 20km south of Madang, its destination, 30 minutes after leaving Lae.
Three of the survivors, including the Australian pilot Capt Bill Spencer, 64, and his New Zealander co-pilot Campbell Wagstaff were at the weekend flown from Modilon to Port Moresby.
A Malaysian, Chin Ku Fa, in his 50s, who escaped through a crack in the burning fuselage remained at Modilon with burns to his back and arms.
The hospital’s director of medical services, Billy Selve, said the man was suffering mental trauma.
“He’s in a stable condition, but there is mental strain,” he said.
The fourth survivor is Kapi Eria, a cabin crew member. There were no other Australians onboard.
Most of those who died were parents of students graduating from the Divine Word University in Madang, flying up to attend the university’s thanksgiving day due to be held last Friday.
According to The Australian newspaper, a Lae-based Australian businessman, who had left the aircraft just hours before the crash, said bad fuel was the likely cause.

Passenger List Released  

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

Those who died in the accident were Sidy Abore, Patrus Akau, Jeffrey Ako, Lucas Bako, Jenny Bal, Ronold Bibi, Samuel Bid, Natasha Bonga, Nathan Bonga, Cotilda Bula, Jeffrey Bula, Saron Doma, Ian Gagi, Benedict Kanaiu, Paul Konia, Thomas Kuekue, Esher Matlam, Christine Matlam, David Olobai, Samson Ote, Barnabas Philip, Debura Rabura, Miria Renagi, Anki Saiyong, Robert Sanglela, Mark Save, Simon Tiriman and Cecilia Wata.
As six Australian forensic experts were dispatched to assist with identification of almost all the bodies which have been burnt beyond recognition, APNG also announced that experts from aircraft frame manufacturers DeHavilland in Canada were also on their way and should be at the site today.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is also expected to visit the site and to participate in a memorial service at Divine Word University today.
Two black boxes, the flight recorders, were retrieved and could give vital details to investigators on what exactly happened in the final moments on board DHC-8 P2-MCJ.
An eyewitness, Amos Titus, from Marakum village told The National that there was a loud noise in the air and there was smoke pouring from the tail of the aircraft as it flew low over the sea.
“The smoke was blowing from the tail of the aircraft,” Titus said in Tok Pisin.
“And fuel was pouring from the plane because it was dripping flames behind it as it approached. Where ever the fuel dripped on leaves of trees, the leaves burst into flames.
“The plane hit the branch of a tree and it flew off and then the tail fbroke apart and the plane hit the ground. It skidded for about 150m before it hit a tree and stopped.
“I was so shocked. I had never seen anything like it.
“I heard screams inside but the fire was too hot to do anything. Only one Chinese man jumped out and we helped him to safety.”
APNG chairman Simon Wild pledged the airline’s total commitment to establish the cause of last Thursday’s tragic crash and support the families of the 28 victims.
He said APNG was “100% committed to finding out” the truth about the cause of the crash.
“We want and need to know too, and when we do, we will share our knowledge with you.
“That is why we have opened our books and made our people available to the investigating authorities, why there is a team from Canada representing the airframe manufactures and the engine makers on site today, and why we will share the community’s pain until we know.
“My personal commitment to you is that, until we are confident there are no safety issues with our Dash-8 fleet, they will stay on the ground.”

Titus saves the four

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

A loud bang in the sky caught the attention of local villagers in the Ileg and Marakum areas last Thursday afternoon as a smoke-belching aircraft tried to find a landing.
That was the scene which unfolded before the eyes of several eyewitnesses as flight P2-MCJ, Airlines PNG Dash 8, became the country’s worst aviation disaster.
It was a heap of twisted metal as it crashed into the rocky hillside close to the Guabi River.
A 70-minute dinghy ride from town and an hour’s walk over dry rocky riverbeds, and then across the Guabi River to the site.The young man who rescued the four survivors of the crash is  Amos Titus from Marakum village.
He was the first on the scene. “Mi stap long wara na mi bin harim wanpela bikpela pairap long lo sky. Na mi lukim balus em igo olsem long solwara bihain long em i bihainim nambis blong Ileg na kam antap.
“Mi lukluk istap na balus em tanim kam bek. Balus i luk olsem em laik igo antap long dispela mountain. Simok i kamap long tail blong balus pinis na petrol em leak blong wanem taim win i blow na wanem hap petrol i go long em fire tu i bihainim. Antap long ol lip diwai na wanem hap em win i muvim petrol paia i kirap.
“Balus em i paitim wing blong em long diwai na wing em yet go long hap na tail em bruk na igo long narapela hap taim balus i pudaon long graun. Balus em ron olsem wanpela 150m bipo long em bampim wanpela diwai na em stop”.
“Mi…em..mi shock stret. Mi ino save lukim kain olsem na mi sanap na paol long wanem samting long mekim long helpim ol lain ol struggle long kam out.
“Ol singaut na karai, mi harim tasol balus em paia pinis insait long liklik taim tasol taim em kam stop. “Paia em antap na hot tumas. Wanpela Chinese man tasol em traim best blong em na rausim olgeta kolos bilong em paia long em, na wantaim pants tasol em kalap kam ausait.
“Taim mi kam kamap, co pilot, husait ino kisim wanpela bagarap, wok long painim pilot stap, so mipela pullim Chinese ya kam longwe long balus……ol askim mi long beten wantaim ol na mi beten long ol pinis na mipela salim tok long ol man lo kam.”
Another Manus woman married to Marakum, Bernadette Bumbum, confirmed that a Malaysian was taken to the Jamad aid post for treatment before the MCC Ramu NiCo’s boat mv Carrie took them to Madang late Thursday night.
“The three – pilot, co-pilot and cabin crew – stayed a few hours at Ricky Bai’s house for a cuppa and rest. I even gave some of the husband’s clean clothes for them to wear,” she said.
Although there are many unexplained aspects about the crash, many people confirmed they saw the emergency exit doors  open as the plane flew over the sea.

Ramu NiCo ferries survivors, bodies to Madang

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

RAMU NiCo Management Ltd acted swiftly last Thursday evening to assist the rescue mission hours after the Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed on the Raicoast.
The four sole survivors were transported to the Modilon Hospital at around 3am last Friday.
Following a call from Madang Governor James Gau and Madang police, Ramu NiCo’s coastal ferry mv Carrie was the first to be deployed at around 10pm to Marakum village, outside Madang, to transport the survivors and carry out other rescue operations.
The four survivors were  two expatriate pilots from Australia and New Zealand, a cabin crew and a Malaysian passenger who suffered a slight burn and internal injury.
“Though we had a VIP trip to Basamuk refinery the following day, Friday, Oct 14, we did not hesitate to help in the transport and rescue mission,” Zhao Enzong, Ramu NiCo administration manager, said.
“This is very important and we must help.”
The mv Carrie left Madang at 10pm and arrived at the beach near Transgogol in Rai­coast district in pitch darkness where the survivors were loaded and transported back to Modilon General Hospital at around 3am. On the ferry also were police officers and rescue teams.
Last Friday, Ramu NiCo also assisted in transporting a medical and police team to collect and transport the remains of the 28 victims.
More than 40 members of the team comprising police officers, medical rescue team, journalists, government officials and locals were deployed by mv Carrie on its way to Basamuk refinery and later picked them to be transported to Madang.
Officials engaged in the repatriation exercise said the bodies of the victims were later transported to the hospital by helicopter.
One official, who sought anonymity, said all the bodies were burned beyond recognition. A baby girl was found in her mother’s arm close to her chest.
Provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Jr thanked Ramu NiCo for its assistance.

Authorities retrieve flight data recorders

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

AUTHORITIES have retrieved the flight data recorders from the wreckage of a plane that crashed near Madang, killing 28 people, the West Australian has reported.

Clear weather allowed investigations to begin probing into what caused the Airlines PNG Dash-8 to crash 20km south

of Madang last Thursday.

Officials sifted through the charred wreckage and retrieved two flight data recorders.

They collected the remains of the 28 people who died in the crash. Some of the bodies were flown to Madang for identification.

The flight’s Australian pilot Bill Spencer was one of the four survivors.

The 64-year-old was medically evacuated to Port Moresby with a badly injured leg yesterday afternoon.

Among the survivors was Spencer’s New Zealand co-pilot, Campbell Wagstaff.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said last Friday that Australia was willing to provide help to PNG authorities and four investigators from Australia’s Air Transport Safety Bureau had travelled to Port Moresby.

The Australian Federal Police has sent a team of six specialists to provide medical and other forensic support to help with the identification process.

More than 20 planes have crashed since 2000 in Papua New Guinea, where the rugged terrain and lack of internal connecting roads makes air travel crucial for around six million citizens

APNG: We will cooperate to establish cause

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

AIRLINES PNG has pledged its total commitment to establish the cause of last Thursday’s tragic crash and support the families of the 28 victims.
“Today, we join with the mourning and the sadness of the entire nation, in this truly dreadful day for PNG and its people,” APNG spokesman Erastus Kamburi said in a media conference last Friday.
He said the company had established that there was an emergency situation onboard the Dash 8 aircraft on approach to Madang airport.
“It has also been confirmed there was bad weather in the area at the time. The crew attempted to conduct a controlled emergency landing but the aircraft broke upon impact and part of the fuselage caught fire.”
He said despite attempts by the crew to assist in the rescue, 28 passengers, all PNG nationals, died at the scene.
Kamburi said Airlines PNG was working with authorities for the repatriation of the victims to their families.
“We can confirm that Capt Bill Spencer, first officer Campbell Wagstaff, flight attendant Kapi Eria and one passenger survived the accident.”

Divine Word University remembers families lost in plane crash

Source: The National - Monday 17th October, 2011

PARENTS and families of those who lost their lives in last Thursday’s tragic plane crash in Madang were paid a special tribute during a candlelight memorial ceremony.
The candlelight ceremony was held at
the Divine Word University to remember the 11 of the 28 victims who were parents and families of final year students.
They were making their way to Madang to join their children in this year’s missioning ceremony last Friday.
They died as the Airlines PNG Dash-8 aircraft CG1600 crashed in the North Coast area.
The university’s chaplain Fr Edward Meli said the ceremony was organised by the Students Representative Council.
He said the university was a community that comprised academics, students, parents and families and the
gathering was important in this time of mourning.
President Fr Jan Czuba, on behalf of his administration, expressed his sympathy to those who lost their loved ones.
The parents and relatives of the 11 of 28 killed were Christine Matlam, Chloe Matlam, Natasha Matlam Bonga, Nathan Bonga, Louise Miria Renagi, Jeffery Bula, Clothilda Bula, Jenny Bal, Deborah Rabura, Cecilia Wata and Simon Tiriman.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and some government officials will officiate in a memorial service at the DWU at 1.30pm today.

History of APNG crashes

Source: Weekender, Post Courier, October 15 - 16, 2011

Airlines PNG, formerly Milne Bay Air (MBA) established and began operations in 1987.

Since then there have been numerous light aircraft incidents. Here are those that were reported over the years through the Post-Courier archives.

• 1991, November 30
- MBA Twin engine queen air
- Gurney Airport, Milne Bay
- Five hurt no fatalities
- Smoke appeared from right wing and pilot forced to make emergency landing
- Expatriate pilot broke leg

• 1992, December 15
- MBA Norman Britten Islander aircraft
- 6 dead, expatriate pilot and five passengers
- Crashed in mountains 10km north east of Alotau

• 1995, July 12
- MBA twin otter
- Exploded in air shortly after take-off at Gurney Airport
- 15 dead
- Investigations revealed kerosene leak in cargo section caused explosion

• 1996, May 11
- MBA Norman Britten Islander
- 1 death
- Crashed in trees near Oumba

• 1996, July 9
- Twin Otter
- 20 deaths
- Struck a mountain in cloudy conditions in Mendi

• 2004
- APNG twin otter
- Crashed in Goilala, Central Province
- 3 dead including expatriate pilot and nation female first officer, one survivor (Nati Ario – loadmaster)

• 2009, August 11
- APNG twin otter
- Crashed in bad weather in the Owen Stanley Ranges
- 6 nautical miles from Kokoda Airstrip
- 13 dead

• 2010, January 20
- APNG EMO twin otter
- Ran off runway while trying to take-off at Kikori Airstrip
- No fatalities, but aircraft suffered extensive damage 

 2011, October 13- APNG Dash 8 headed for Madang
- Crashed at Transgogol in Madang
- 28 dead & 4 Survivors including the two pilots                     

Aussie pilot survives as 28 die in PNG plane crash

by: Tim Vollmer and Henry Budd , From: The Daily Telegraph , October 14, 2011 9:14AM

Source: News Limited

Crash ... a plane similar to the one reported in the PNG incident. Source: The

Daily Telegraph

Distraught ... relatives wait for news of their loved ones outside the Modilon Hospital in Madang / Pic: Scott Waide Source: Supplied

AN Australian pilot is among four survivors dragged from an aircraft that crashed in Papua New Guinea last night, killing 28 others.

People from a village close to the crash site rescued the two expatriate pilots of a Dash 8 aircraft that crashed near the mouth of the Gogol River.

One of the pair suffered a broken leg while the remaining survivors are believed to be a PNG cabin crew member and an Asian passenger who suffered slight burns.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades have confirmed four people survived the crash, including one Australian pilot and one New Zealand pilot.

"The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has been liaising with Airlines PNG and local authorities to determine if any Australians were amongst those killed on an Airlines PNG flight that crashed outside of Madang, Papua New Guinea," a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

"Initial indications are that there are no Australians amongst those killed. The High Commission has undertaken preliminary checks but official confirmation may take some time.

"Airlines PNG and local authorities have advised that there were 28 passengers and 4 crew on board. They understand that four people survived the crash, including one Australian pilot and one New Zealand pilot.

Australian Consular officials will travel to Madang today.

Do you know the Australian pilot who survived the crash? Email us at news@dailytelegraph.com.au or email photos to webphoto@dailytelegraph.com.au. 

The four survivors who were taken last night to Yamad clinic near the crash site at Transgogol River on the Rai Coast of Madang Province.

They were last night being moved from the Yamad clinic by boat to Modilon hospital in Madang.

The flight was enroute from Lae to the resort port town of Madang, when it went down over dense forest in bad weather about 5.15pm yesterday.

The plane had 32 people on board when it crashed 20km southeast of Madang, a spokesman for the Accident Investigation Commission said.

The 28 other passengers, all believed to be PNG nationals, are feared to have perished in the fiery crash.

Eyewitnesses from Marakum village, about three kilometres from the crash site told the Post-Courier last night at Marakum that the plane came down on the banks of the Guabe River and burst into flames on impact.

Early today rescuers retrieved five bodies from the wreckage, raising fears all 28 passengers died.

"There were reports of fire and there have been some fatalities," AIC spokesman Sid O'Toole told the ABC.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was last night seeking to confirm the details of any Australians on board.

The confirmation could take some time as locals report the weather around the crash site was particularly bad.

Rescue teams were forced back twice at the Guabe river due to heavy rains and had to resort to the use of four boats to reach the crash site, Madang’s provincial police commander Anthony Wagambie Junior reported.

It is believed that most of the passengers were parents on their way to attend the thanksgiving for the children attending the Divine Word University in Madang. The Civil Aviation Authority of PNG said the doomed plane sent out a distress call before the crash.

Airlines PNG grounded its fleet of 12 Dash 8 aircraft following the crash and also quarantined the fuel depot at Laes Nadzab airport where the plane last refuelled and took off.

Australia has sent four army Blackhawk helicopters, in Port Moresby for an exercise, to the crash site to assist with the search and rescue effort at the request of PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.

He had been back in the country less than an hour after flying in from Australia when told of the crash.

The PNG Public Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta expressed sympathy for those who died.

"This is a terrible accident, and many people have died," he said.

"I offer my condolences to the families of the victims of this disaster.

"I join with all other Papua New Guineans in mourning our loss."

It is the second fatal incident involving an Airlines PNG aircraft in recent years. In August 2009 an Airlines PNG Twin Otter crashed on approach to the Kokoda airstrip, killing all 13 people onboard, including nine Australians