Twin Otter Missing in PNG

[penash]

AN AUSTRALIAN pilot and his two-member crew are feared dead after their plane crashed in rugged terrain in Papua New Guinea.

The Airlines PNG Twin Otter aircraft was reported missing at 10.30am yesterday after it left the capital Port Moresby on a freight run to PNG's Central Province.

Airlines PNG spokesman Simon Wild said search and rescue teams had located the wreckage this afternoon about 90 kilometres from Port Moresby but bad weather and rugged terrain had hampered efforts to reach the site.

Wild said the fate of the three people on board was not known but initial reports suggested there had been extensive damage to the aircraft.

He declined to release the identities of the crew but said the pilot was an Australian.
A search and rescue team was to resume efforts to reach the site at first light tomorrow, he said.

AAP

[Bill Smith]

Aussies feared dead in PNG plane crash
20:26 AEST Fri Jul 30 2004


An Australian pilot and his two-member crew are feared dead after their plane crashed in rugged terrain in Papua New Guinea.

The Airlines PNG Twin Otter aircraft was reported missing at 10.30am on Thursday after it left the capital Port Moresby on a freight run to PNG's Central Province.

Airlines PNG spokesman Simon Wild said search and rescue teams had located the wreckage on Friday afternoon about 90 kilometres from Port Moresby but bad weather and rugged terrain had hampered efforts to reach the site.

Wild said the fate of the three people on board was not known but initial reports suggested there had been extensive damage to the aircraft.

He declined to release the identities of the crew but said the pilot was an Australian.

A search and rescue team was to resume efforts to reach the site at first light Saturday, he said.

[echelonq]

:( Another sad week for Australian Aviation.

[TIMMEEEE]

From experience in PNG the sad fact is that these accidents always come in threes!

[troppo]

Smh.com.au

Australian pilot killed in Papua New Guinea
August 1, 2004


Rescue teams in Papua New Guinea yesterday recovered the body of an Australian pilot killed when his aircraft crashed in rugged mountain terrain on Thursday.

The body of the Airlines PNG pilot was recovered by a rescue team dispatched to the crash site 90km from the PNG capital of Port Moresby.

The aircraft's female co-pilot also was confirmed dead but bad weather and rugged terrain prevented rescue workers from reaching the body.

Airlines PNG managing director Simon Wild declined to release the names of the pilots but said one was an Australian.

Sources in the PNG aviation industry said the pilot was highly competent with 10 years' experience flying in PNG.

His co-pilot was believed to be from the Chimbu province and one of the country's few female pilots.

Rescue teams this morning winched the sole survivor of the crash, Nati Ario, from the crash site, which is in a remote mountain valley in PNG's Central province.

Ario, 43, from the Eastern Highlands province, was working as a load master on the aircraft.

He suffered a broken leg and a suspected broken hip and was recovering yesterday in a private clinic in Port Moresby.

There were no other passengers on board the Airlines PNG Twin Otter aircraft, which was on a weekly freight run from Port Moresby to Onoge airport in the Goilala area of Central province on Thursday when it crashed.

Director of PNG's Civil Aviation Authority Andrew Ogil said a signal had been picked up at about 10.30am on Thursday from an emergency beacon attached to the tail of the aircraft.

He said an Air Niugini aircraft flying over the area had picked up the emergency signal and reported it to authorities in Port Moresby.

Wild said Airlines PNG had dispatched its own search and rescue team to look for the aircraft, which was discovered yesterday in a remote mountain valley 2,286 metres above sea level.

Wild said rescue teams had been unable to reach the site until yesterday due to bad weather and the inaccessibility of the area.

He said rescue workers had been winched to an area close to the site on Friday afternoon where a landing pad was cleared in preparation for the recovery operation.

The site where the plane went down is extremely tough terrain, Wild said.

He said Airlines PNG had been in contact with the families of the pilot and crew and were keeping them updated.

The cause of the crash was not known and investigations were continuing, he said.

AAP

[ROCKSTEADY]

Does anybody know who the Pilots were?

[Grypen]

Now that the names have been made public on various news reports, the Australian captain was Phil Wiseman and the PNG co-pilot was Rachel Kaltia. The survivor was the loadmaster, Nati Ario.

Here is more information:

http://www.thenational.com.pg/0802/nation1.htm

http://www.thenational.com.pg/0802/nation2.htm

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1166598.htm

My condolences to all concerned in this tragedy.

[Chimbu chuckles]

I knew Phil from my time in PNG...very experienced (in PNG) pilot.

RIP Phil and condolences to his wife and kids.

Chuck.

PS: Just read the linked report saying they were on their way to Ononge. That being the case I would almost bet money I know where exactly they crashed...there's a sucker valley enroute full of aeroplanes. Phil makes mate number 3 in that valley (probably)..I'll find out.:(

[OzExpat]

I've known Phil since his time as Chief Pilot for Airlink. That was quite a while ago. As Chuck has said, Phil had a lot of experience in PNG and this news comes as a great shock to me. He was a good bloke.

RIP Phil.
Condolences to the wife and kids.
:(

[t_cas]

Very sad news indeed. Will miss yet another good friendship.
RIP Phil Wiseman
Condolences to wife and family.:(

[Pack2]

Just saw the thread carrying this terrible news. My heart sank as I read the name of the pilot.

Only have memories of a kind and gentle man that I came to know when he was the chief pilot of Airlink. A great loss to us all.

[birdkiller]

Very sorry to hear this bad news.

Rachel trained with me in NSW and was a fun loving girl. Condolences to the families of both pilots.

bk.

[dogbros]

I also had the privilege of having Phil as my Chief Pilot at Airlink, he was always pleasant, polite and professional. Goes to show that every pilot, no matter how good they are or how experienced have a shelf life in PNG. A sad loss.

RIP Phil

:(