Port Moresby – Goroka – Mount Hagen

While approaching Mount Hagen Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Port Moresby – Goroka – Mount Hagen

Aircraft

Cessna 402

Registration

P2-GKJ

MSN

402A-0081

Year of Manufacture

1969

Operator

Talair

Date

April 1, 1981 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Mount Hagen Western Highlands

Region

Oceania • Papua New Guinea

Coordinates

-5.8588°, 144.2316°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On April 1, 1981 at 12:00 AM, Port Moresby – Goroka – Mount Hagen experienced a crash involving Cessna 402, operated by Talair, with the event recorded near Mount Hagen Western Highlands.

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

8 people were known to be on board, 8 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: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While approaching Mount Hagen Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration P2-GKJ, MSN 402A-0081, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -5.8588°, 144.2316°.

Fatalities

Total

8

Crew

1

Passengers

7

Other

0

Crash Summary

While approaching Mount Hagen Airport in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a wooded mountain. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

7

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 8

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Port Moresby – Goroka – Mount Hagen

Operator

Talair

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Oceania • Papua New Guinea

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Cessna 402

Registration

P2-GKJ

MSN

402A-0081

Year of Manufacture

1969