Nausori - Nadi

The twin engine aircraft departed Suva-Nausori Airport at 0525LT on a regular schedule service (flight PC121) to Nadi, carrying 15 passengers and two pilots. The crew continued to climb via route 28 Golf in relative good weather conditions. At 0532LT, the pilot reported 5,500 feet 22,4 km from the airport. One minute later, he reported at 6,000 feet when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens, eight minutes after takeoff. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 540 metres in a wooded an mountainous area located in the Mataicicia Mountain Range, 35,2 km west of Nausori Airport, south of the village of Nasirotu. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 17 occupants were killed, among them nine Fidjians, five Australians, one New Zealander, one Chinese and one Japanese.

Flight / Schedule

Nausori - Nadi

Registration

DQ-AFN

MSN

110-416

Year of Manufacture

1983

Operator

Air Fiji

Date

July 24, 1999 at 05:33 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Crash Location

Nasirotu All Fiji Islands

Region

Oceania • Fiji Islands

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On July 24, 1999 at 05:33 AM, Nausori - Nadi experienced a crash involving Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, operated by Air Fiji, with the event recorded near Nasirotu All Fiji Islands.

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

17 people were known to be on board, 17 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 15, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine aircraft departed Suva-Nausori Airport at 0525LT on a regular schedule service (flight PC121) to Nadi, carrying 15 passengers and two pilots. The crew continued to climb via route 28 Golf in relative good weather conditions. At 0532LT, the pilot reported 5,500 feet 22,4 km from the airport. One minute later, he reported at 6,000 feet when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens, eight minutes after takeoff. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 540 metres in a wooded an mountainous area located in the Mataicicia Mountain Range, 35,2 km west of Nausori Airport, south of the village of Nasirotu. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 17 occupants were killed, among them nine Fidjians, five Australians, one New Zealander, one Chinese and one Japanese.

Aircraft reference details include registration DQ-AFN, MSN 110-416, year of manufacture 1983.

Fatalities

Total

17

Crew

2

Passengers

15

Other

0

Crash Summary

The twin engine aircraft departed Suva-Nausori Airport at 0525LT on a regular schedule service (flight PC121) to Nadi, carrying 15 passengers and two pilots. The crew continued to climb via route 28 Golf in relative good weather conditions. At 0532LT, the pilot reported 5,500 feet 22,4 km from the airport. One minute later, he reported at 6,000 feet when the aircraft disappeared from radar screens, eight minutes after takeoff. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 540 metres in a wooded an mountainous area located in the Mataicicia Mountain Range, 35,2 km west of Nausori Airport, south of the village of Nasirotu. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and all 17 occupants were killed, among them nine Fidjians, five Australians, one New Zealander, one Chinese and one Japanese.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

15

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 17

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Nausori - Nadi

Operator

Air Fiji

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Mountains

Region / Country

Oceania • Fiji Islands

Aircraft Details

Registration

DQ-AFN

MSN

110-416

Year of Manufacture

1983

Similar Plane Crashes

October 4, 1941 at 12:00 PM2 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

While performing a training flight at a height of 2,000 feet, the crew lost control of the aircraft that dove and crashed into the sea, few hundred yards off shore. Both occupants were killed.

September 23, 1943 at 08:50 PM4 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

Shortly after take off from the Laucala Bay, off Suva, while on a night training sortie, the seaplane reached the height of 200 feet and then plunged into the bay, few hundred yards off shore. All four occupants were killed.

December 3, 1943 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

After completing an antisubmarine patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean, the twin engine aircraft was returning to its base in Nausori. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few miles off shore. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 4 crew members. Crew (4th Squadron): F/Sgt Alistair Pinching, W/O Jack Boesen, F/Sgt Cyril Corbett, F/Sgt Anthony Madsen.

December 4, 1944 at 04:49 PM5 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

The crew was performing a flight from Funafuti (Tuvalu Islands) to Nausori with a load of bomb. The approach and landing were completed in strong cross winds and upon landing, the twin engine aircraft went of control, skidded and veered off runway to the right before coming to rest in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The explosion on final impact was largely contributed by the presence of bombs.

January 27, 1945 at 10:58 AM12 Fatalities

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

The seaplane stalled and spun into water some 10 miles south of Beqa Island, while operating with No. 6 squadron. During a post maintenance test flight, the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5,500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dove into the sea near Beqa Island. Four crew and eight passengers were killed while two crew and four passengers got clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived. Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

April 26, 1954 at 12:00 AM

Fiji Airways

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Shortly after takeoff from Labasa Airport, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.