Port Moresby – Kokoda

On August 30, 1985 at 08:30 AM, Port Moresby – Kokoda experienced a crash involving Britten-Norman Islander, operated by Douglas Airways, with the event recorded near Kokoda Central.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While cruising under VFR mode in marginal weather conditions, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a wooded mountain. The wreckage was found 17 km south of Kokoda. The pilot and two female passengers were killed. Two other passengers, including the photos author, were evacuated to local hospital. One was seriously injured while the photo author was uninjured.

Aircraft reference details include registration P2-DNW, MSN 67, year of manufacture 1969.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -9.2064°, 147.6236°.