Airlines PNG Flight 4684

Airlines PNG Flight 4684 (CG4682/TOK4684) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by Papua New Guinean Airlines PNG, flying from Jacksons International Airport in Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby to Kokoda Airport in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. On 11 August 2009, the aircraft operating the flight, a de Havilland Canada Twin Otter, the aircraft impacted terrain on the eastern slope of the Kokoda Gap at about 5780 ft above mean sea level in heavily-timbered jungle about 11 km south-east of Kokoda Airstrip. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces. There were no survivors of the 13 people on board. A search and rescue operation was conducted by authorities who found the wreckage of the plane the next day, 12 August 2009. The aircraft was severely damaged, searchers found no signs of life. Papua New Guinean Search and Rescue Agency then announced that everyone on board had died.

The Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) investigated the cause of the crash and released its final report, concluding that the aircraft crashed due to pilot error. The plane deviated from its original flight path, visual references normally used in the Kokoda Gap were obscured by clouds, the pilots were not aware of their proximity to terrain. The AIC classified the accident as controlled flight into terrain.

Flight

The aircraft departed Jacksons International Airport at 10:50 am local time and reported to Jacksons Tower that they were climbing to 9,000 ft via the Kokoda Gap, with an estimated time of arrival at 11:20 am. At 11:11 am, while en route to Kokoda and on descent in the Kokoda Gap, the crew of Flight 4684 conversed with the crew of an aircraft, registered P2-KST, which was departing from Kokoda. There was no indication that the crew of Flight 4684 had any problems with their aircraft. On the ATC recording, the crew was heard saying "Thank you very much, morning long you". This was the last communication from Flight 4684.

Witnesses at Isurava village stated that they observed an aircraft fly low over the village at about the estimated time of the accident. Witnesses at the nearby Misima village stated that they heard an aircraft fly near their village but that they could not see the aircraft, as the area was covered by cloud. They stated that shortly after, there was a loud bang above the village and the sound of the aircraft stopped. Port Moresby ATC lost contact with Flight 4684.

Port Moresby ATC tried to contact Flight 4684, even requesting nearby aircraft in the area to contact the plane. However, there was no response from Flight 4684. ATC then asked other aircraft P2-MCD, an Airlines PNG plane departing from Efogi Airport, if Flight 4684 had landed in Kokoda. The crews of P2-MCD then stated that P2-MCB did not land in Kokoda. Port Moresby ATC then declared Flight 4684 status to ALERFA (alert search and rescue phase), and subsequently to DISTRESFA (distress search and rescue phase).

Search and rescue teams searched the area where Flight 4684 had lost contact, but the search and rescue operation was hampered by bad weather, low visibility and rough terrain. On 12 August 2009, a search and rescue Dornier aircraft detected an ELT signal in the search area. Later, a search and rescue team found the wreckage. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The search team did not find anyone alive at the crash site, and announced that no one survived the crash.