Description

On 13 October 2011, a Bombardier DHC8-100 (P2-MCJ) being operated by Airlines PNG on a scheduled passenger flight from Nadzab to Madang in day Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) on an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight plan lost all engine power en route at 10000 feet amsl following a rapid reduction in power in response to an overspeed warning. A 'MAYDAY' was declared and the aircraft was manoeuvred for a forced landing which was accomplished on relatively flat terrain but concealed boulders resulted in the tail and one wing separating from the fuselage and a severe fuel-fed fire started. The aircraft was destroyed and all but one of the 29 passengers died in the fire. The remaining passenger, the flight attendant and both pilots survived, the passenger with severe burns and the others with relatively minor injuries.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission. Recorded data relevant to the Investigation from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which were both located in the tail section of the aircraft and not damaged by the impact or the post-crash fire, was successfully downloaded by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).