Pago Pago - Apia

On January 7, 1997 at 10:38 AM, Pago Pago - Apia experienced a crash involving De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by Polynesian Airline of Samoa - Polynesian Airlines, with the event recorded near Apia-Fagali'i All Samoa Islands.

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

5 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 60.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. At about 1038 hours on Tuesday 7 January 1997, Polynesian Airlines’ DHC-6 (Twin Otter) 5W FAU collided with the western slopes of Mt Vaea, Apia, in conditions of low cloud and heavy rain. The aeroplane was on a scheduled flight from Pago Pago to Fagali’i, and was being flown to Fagali’i by visual reference after having made an instrument approach to Faleolo. The captain and two passengers lost their lives in the accident. The first officer and one passenger survived.

Aircraft reference details include registration 5W-FAU, MSN 678, year of manufacture 1980.