Minj – Mendi

On July 8, 1958 at 12:00 AM, Minj – Mendi experienced a crash involving Noorduyn Norseman, operated by Gibbes Sepik Airways, with the event recorded near Mendi Southern Highlands.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is weather. The pilot, sole on board, was performing a cargo flight from Minj to Mendi, carrying a load of cement bags. While approaching Mendi, weather conditions deteriorated. The single engine aircraft went through a valley in thunderstorm activity when it struck the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. The pilot was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration VH-GSA, MSN 250, year of manufacture 1943.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -6.1394°, 143.6579°.