Investigation underway after plane crashes in Lae

By HELEN TARAWA
The PNG Accidents Investigation Commission has deployed two investigators to Nadzab, Lae, to start work on the crash of the North Coast Aviation the Britain Norman Islander light aircraft last Saturday.
Investigation manager Alan Stray said the team would be supported by other investigators in Port Moresby and the chief commissioner Hubert Namani.
“The composition of any investigation team may change throughout the course of an investigation to ensure the most appropriate expertise is used,” he said.
“As part of its International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) obligations, the accident investigation authority in the country where the aircraft was manufactured (the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch) has appointed an accredited representative (ICAO) team for an investigator to assist the AIC (investigation), and the aircraft manufacturer is appointing technical advisers to that accredited representative.”
Stray said the AIC would also rely on support from the coroner with respect to post-mortem and toxicological testing results.
“This is routine in any investigation involving fatalities, and is also a requirement of ICAO,” he said.
Stray said the AIC now understood that the pilot, the only occupant, contacted a pilot colleague between 4pm and 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon by telephone and not by radio as initially stated.
He explained that when an aircraft was in serious danger, a pilot was required to broadcast a “mayday” call on the radio giving the aircraft call sign and the nature of the distress.
Stray said the AIC would be reviewing the Air Traffic Control and Flight Services recorded information to confirm if a “mayday”or PAN broadcast was made.
The final report will be released at a later date.