Wind gust led to crash: AIC

The National Main Stories
A preliminary report into an aircraft accident at Efogi airstrip in Central on Oct 7 has found that its landing was affected by a tailwind gust resulting in its nose wheel hitting the slope of the airstrip.
There were no injuries to the pilot and six passengers onboard the turbo-propeller aircraft registered P2-ASZ and owned and operated by Air Sanga Limited.
  • Full report below

Aircraft landing affected

A PRELIMINARY report into an aircraft accident at Efogi airstrip in Central on Oct 7, has found that the aircraft’s landing was affected by a tailwind gust and the aircraft’s nose wheel impacted the slope of the airstrip.
There were no injuries to the pilot and six passengers on board the PAC 750XL turbo propeller aircraft, when the accident occurred.
The aircraft was registered as P2-ASZ, and was owned and operated by Air Sanga Ltd.
According to the preliminary report released by PNG Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) chief commissioner Hubert Namani, the nose landing gear, cargo pod, engine and propeller were substantially damaged.
The Papua New Guinean pilot with 13,123 hours of flying experience was in command of the chartered flight which departed Jackson International airport on Oct 7 with six passengers on board.
The aircraft departed Port Moresby at 1.10pm with an estimated time of arrival at Efogi airstrip of 1.28pm.
At 1.27pm the pilot notified the PNG Air Services Ltd Flight Service Unit (FSU) that he was in the circuit area at Efogi, and would call again on the ground.
But according to the pilot’s testimony to AIC, the landing at Efogi airstrip, the aircraft was affected by a tailwind gust, and the aircraft’s nose wheel impacted the up slope of the airstrip.
“The investigation is continuing and will include an analysis of the aircraft, its engine, flight operational and maintenance records, organisational aspects and the safety management system,” AIC stated in its preliminary report.
AIC stated that investigation analysis and findings would be included in the final report.