PNG : Flying in Papua New Guinea
Crash pilot's body in Sydney for autopsy
THE Air Safety Investigation Branch of the Transport Department will be carrying out further investigations after the results of an autopsy on the body of the Australian pilot are released late this week.
Senior Accident Investigator, Allan Yarnold said yesterday that the pilot identified as John Twit's body is currently in Sydney, New South Wales undergoing a post-mortem.
Mr Twit is from Melbourne, Australia and was employed by the Pacific Helicopters.
Mr Yarnold suspected that the pilot was incapacitated before the plane crashed into the sea and he was still alive when he was brought to the beach.
He was bleeding from his nose and a CPR was done to try and resuscitate him.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Angau Memorial Hospital.
His passengers - the three US army officers and an official from the National Museum were checked and released.
After an interview with the survivors, Mr Yarnold said from Madang yesterday that there was "no problem with the helicopter" and they got themselves out of the plane and swam to the surface of the sea.
"There was nothing mechanically wrong and no signs of engine problems," said Mr Yarnold.
He said the US Army Central Identification Laboratory team has been serving the force for years and they were highly experienced to handle themselves when they encountered such situations._
Mr Yarnold said the survivors told him that the pilot did notify them in the plane that there was danger and the plane would be crashing into the sea.
He said they also did not notice that the plane was going into the water until they realised that they in the water._
Assistant Commissioner of Police, commander Raphael Huafolo released a statement on Friday, saying the helicopter owned by Pacific Helicopters crashed into the sea off Sipaia village on the outskirts of Lae, Morobe province between 7.45am and 8.00am.
He said Mr Twit had died and Greg Fox, one of the US Army soliders was in critical condition and admitted at the Intensive Care Unit at Lae's Angau Memorial Hospital. He was recovering. The other three were checked and discharged.
The three US Army soldiers are members of the War relic Team operating in the country.
The US Embassy also released a statement yesterday saying that the army team has suspended operations and will be returning to Hawaii.
An official from the US Embassy, Theodore Pierce said yesterday that the crash would not jeopardise their commitment to excavate the crash site of a WWII B-24D aircraft that went down in 1943.
source:http://www.thenational.com.pg
THE Air Safety Investigation Branch of the Transport Department will be carrying out further investigations after the results of an autopsy on the body of the Australian pilot are released late this week.
Senior Accident Investigator, Allan Yarnold said yesterday that the pilot identified as John Twit's body is currently in Sydney, New South Wales undergoing a post-mortem.
Mr Twit is from Melbourne, Australia and was employed by the Pacific Helicopters.
Mr Yarnold suspected that the pilot was incapacitated before the plane crashed into the sea and he was still alive when he was brought to the beach.
He was bleeding from his nose and a CPR was done to try and resuscitate him.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Angau Memorial Hospital.
His passengers - the three US army officers and an official from the National Museum were checked and released.
After an interview with the survivors, Mr Yarnold said from Madang yesterday that there was "no problem with the helicopter" and they got themselves out of the plane and swam to the surface of the sea.
"There was nothing mechanically wrong and no signs of engine problems," said Mr Yarnold.
He said the US Army Central Identification Laboratory team has been serving the force for years and they were highly experienced to handle themselves when they encountered such situations._
Mr Yarnold said the survivors told him that the pilot did notify them in the plane that there was danger and the plane would be crashing into the sea.
He said they also did not notice that the plane was going into the water until they realised that they in the water._
Assistant Commissioner of Police, commander Raphael Huafolo released a statement on Friday, saying the helicopter owned by Pacific Helicopters crashed into the sea off Sipaia village on the outskirts of Lae, Morobe province between 7.45am and 8.00am.
He said Mr Twit had died and Greg Fox, one of the US Army soliders was in critical condition and admitted at the Intensive Care Unit at Lae's Angau Memorial Hospital. He was recovering. The other three were checked and discharged.
The three US Army soldiers are members of the War relic Team operating in the country.
The US Embassy also released a statement yesterday saying that the army team has suspended operations and will be returning to Hawaii.
An official from the US Embassy, Theodore Pierce said yesterday that the crash would not jeopardise their commitment to excavate the crash site of a WWII B-24D aircraft that went down in 1943.
source:http://www.thenational.com.pg
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I knew a John Twitt who worked as a TAA traffic officer in Goroka in the late 60s and was keen to learn to fly. I guess he would be in his mid to late 50s now. What that be the same John? The one I knew was a great fun bloke but all very sad regardless.
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A witness on the beach reported that the area was in heavy rain at the time of the crash. The vision through the Lama's "bubble"
can be severely degraded under these conditions . A very
similar fatal Lama crash from low level occurred in Hong Kong
some years ago.
can be severely degraded under these conditions . A very
similar fatal Lama crash from low level occurred in Hong Kong
some years ago.
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Png
Anyone have current email/tel or web page for either Hevi-lift or Pacific helicopters. Someone said something the other day that they were now one. I cant find Hevi-lifts web page anymore.
Also any thoughts from people who have been there, would they go back. Was it a worth while experience?
Thanks
RB
Also any thoughts from people who have been there, would they go back. Was it a worth while experience?
Thanks
RB
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Pacific Helicopter ops number 675 7321833
I don't know about a merger although there were discussions about it when I was there in the 90's
It seems the greed factor in management on both sides cut the idea short fairly quickly.
PNG is a spectactular country and the flying is very stimulating challenging and rewarding from sea level up to near 15000' isa plus 20 but it can be fatally unforgiving as well.
Have no desire to go back only because of the way the place is being run into the ground by those greedy lying politicians whose only concern is how they can rip off the white man and kill and pack rape any thing that moves.
Pacific Helicopters ,Hevilift, Heli New Guinea all very good operators with good equipment and maintenance attitudes.
Fly safe
I don't know about a merger although there were discussions about it when I was there in the 90's
It seems the greed factor in management on both sides cut the idea short fairly quickly.
PNG is a spectactular country and the flying is very stimulating challenging and rewarding from sea level up to near 15000' isa plus 20 but it can be fatally unforgiving as well.
Have no desire to go back only because of the way the place is being run into the ground by those greedy lying politicians whose only concern is how they can rip off the white man and kill and pack rape any thing that moves.
Pacific Helicopters ,Hevilift, Heli New Guinea all very good operators with good equipment and maintenance attitudes.
Fly safe
Sometimes news travels a little slowly. I new John well whilst working at Islands/Nationair back in 1996. I had lost contact with him after leaving PNG but was always hopeful of crossing paths sometime in the future. The news of his death has saddened me deeply and left an unfinished chapter. I will forever regret not getting in contact with you and catching up on old times. For now with a drink in my hand, cheers! I will miss you mate! RIP
PS Does anyone know where John has been laid to rest? I would like to pay my respects to him.
PS Does anyone know where John has been laid to rest? I would like to pay my respects to him.
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http://www.hevilift.com.au/ looks okay to me and has info on the Contact page. If it was hijacked it looks like they got their act together and fixed it in a hurry.
SLC.
SLC.
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This is the current one www.cxl.com.pg/home/hevilift/default.asp
PNG: What's the goss?
What's going on in PNG lately.
My sources have all left Hevilift complaining about management (as usual...) and I hear that Pacific and HeliN are going great guns?
Dave Chin is hanging around here at the moment. When do you guys want him back?
Is Dick Anderson still touring out of Rabaul?
Who is paying the best and what are the rotations like?
Thanks for the replies.
Steve
My sources have all left Hevilift complaining about management (as usual...) and I hear that Pacific and HeliN are going great guns?
Dave Chin is hanging around here at the moment. When do you guys want him back?
Is Dick Anderson still touring out of Rabaul?
Who is paying the best and what are the rotations like?
Thanks for the replies.
Steve
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Steve,
If you find out let me know .I too am curious. We were just talking abou PNG yesterday. Base MGR was there in 89 and was getting me all fired up.....
I thought you were married!.. Png 'll be healthy for that
May want to leave that stuff for us young , non-girlfriend/partner, camp living, brush apes.
Or is EMS getting a little boring
Is Pacific sill flying Lamas, do they have any Astars?
RB
If you find out let me know .I too am curious. We were just talking abou PNG yesterday. Base MGR was there in 89 and was getting me all fired up.....
I thought you were married!.. Png 'll be healthy for that
May want to leave that stuff for us young , non-girlfriend/partner, camp living, brush apes.
Or is EMS getting a little boring
Is Pacific sill flying Lamas, do they have any Astars?
RB
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Is Dave Chinn still as big as his brother Dan...
did a "water bucket check" with Dave (or was it Dan?) just out of Poroma in a Hu 500 I think we went to 8500 or 9000' for that ....mmmmm the things we did/do! ...
did a "water bucket check" with Dave (or was it Dan?) just out of Poroma in a Hu 500 I think we went to 8500 or 9000' for that ....mmmmm the things we did/do! ...
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Missionary pilot killed in Papua
BosNewsLife report
Indonesia Christians Mourn U.S. Pilot as Investigations Continue into Helicopter Crash
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
JAKARTA, INDONESIA
-- Investigations continue into the reasons of a helicopter crash which killed 30 year old American mission pilot Neil Roesler in Indonesia's remote eastern Papua province.
Early news reports said that the Bell helicopter owned by the Swiss evangelical Helimission went down during a storm in the mountainous Soba-Ninia district
The helicopter was last heard from at 4:15 pm (0915 GMT) Monday, about 15 minutes before it was due to land in Wamena town, Jonathan Raney, of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) told reporters.
MAF and other missionary agencies and Freeport Indonesia mining firm's Airfast, began a search at first light Tuesday and recovered the body just after noon.
They spotted the downed chopper near Soba village in a mountain pass leading to the Wamena Valley, Raney said, adding he had no details on the pilot's mission or the cause of the crash, AFP reported.
Roesler was the only passenger on board. He leaves behind his wife Sandy and their two young children, who are two years and eight months old.
Much of Papua province is covered by vast tropical forests. There are few roads and air travel is common, news reports said.
Early news reports said that the Bell helicopter owned by the Swiss evangelical Helimission went down during a storm in the mountainous Soba-Ninia district
The helicopter was last heard from at 4:15 pm (0915 GMT) Monday, about 15 minutes before it was due to land in Wamena town, Jonathan Raney, of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) told reporters.
MAF and other missionary agencies and Freeport Indonesia mining firm's Airfast, began a search at first light Tuesday and recovered the body just after noon.
They spotted the downed chopper near Soba village in a mountain pass leading to the Wamena Valley, Raney said, adding he had no details on the pilot's mission or the cause of the crash, AFP reported.
Roesler was the only passenger on board. He leaves behind his wife Sandy and their two young children, who are two years and eight months old.
Much of Papua province is covered by vast tropical forests. There are few roads and air travel is common, news reports said.
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Evangelical Alliance Mission announcement (excerpt):
A sad but heart-warming story - especially in these days when we read almost daily about man’s inhumanity to man.
Helimission is a non-denominational Christian organization that uses helicopters to provide aid in the most remote and isolated areas of the world, bringing physical relief to secluded villages by providing mobile medical clinics and supporting community development projects like water filtration systems, school and dispensary construction and disaster relief.
FL
"With deep sorrow we inform you that Neil Roesler (30) went to be with His Lord Monday, Sept. 20, 2004.
Neil and Sandy were appointed as missionaries to in July 2000, seconded (on loan) to Helimission in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Together with their two children Kaila (2) and Micah (8 mos.), Neil and Sandy had recently completed six months of language study in Bandung, Indonesia.
Neil communicated with the base in Wamena on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20), expecting to be home within an hour. The situation for air travel in and around Papua is always dangerous. On Monday, Neil’s flight took him to the South Coast, which means there are mountain passes to navigate to return home. Bad weather and clouds frequently delay flights and communications systems are often interrupted by mountain ranges and peaks.
At dawn on Tuesday morning the search and rescue operation for Neil began. On Tuesday evening, Sandy received word that Neil had been found. The helicopter Neil was piloting had crashed and he was killed on impact. Details are currently being investigated as supporting and involved organizations cooperate to determine the circumstances that led to the accident.
The funeral service for Neil Roesler was held Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the hangar in Wamena. All MAF flights in Irian Jaya were cancelled for the day. Many gathered in Sentani to be part of three caravans. By 12:15 many Indonesians had already gathered, at 1:30 the hangar was full with people standing outside.
Both Neil and Sandy attended high school together at Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines in the late 1980’s. Neil went on to receive a BS in Aviation Technology at Le Tourneau University in Texas.
A Memorial Fund to assist the Roesler family has been established. Those interested can help by sending contributions to the Neil Roesler Memorial Fund care of TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189. Please include Roesler Memorial in the memo line of checks made payable to TEAM."
Neil and Sandy were appointed as missionaries to in July 2000, seconded (on loan) to Helimission in Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia. Together with their two children Kaila (2) and Micah (8 mos.), Neil and Sandy had recently completed six months of language study in Bandung, Indonesia.
Neil communicated with the base in Wamena on Monday afternoon (Sept. 20), expecting to be home within an hour. The situation for air travel in and around Papua is always dangerous. On Monday, Neil’s flight took him to the South Coast, which means there are mountain passes to navigate to return home. Bad weather and clouds frequently delay flights and communications systems are often interrupted by mountain ranges and peaks.
At dawn on Tuesday morning the search and rescue operation for Neil began. On Tuesday evening, Sandy received word that Neil had been found. The helicopter Neil was piloting had crashed and he was killed on impact. Details are currently being investigated as supporting and involved organizations cooperate to determine the circumstances that led to the accident.
The funeral service for Neil Roesler was held Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 2:00 p.m. at the hangar in Wamena. All MAF flights in Irian Jaya were cancelled for the day. Many gathered in Sentani to be part of three caravans. By 12:15 many Indonesians had already gathered, at 1:30 the hangar was full with people standing outside.
Both Neil and Sandy attended high school together at Faith Academy in Manila, Philippines in the late 1980’s. Neil went on to receive a BS in Aviation Technology at Le Tourneau University in Texas.
A Memorial Fund to assist the Roesler family has been established. Those interested can help by sending contributions to the Neil Roesler Memorial Fund care of TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189. Please include Roesler Memorial in the memo line of checks made payable to TEAM."
Helimission is a non-denominational Christian organization that uses helicopters to provide aid in the most remote and isolated areas of the world, bringing physical relief to secluded villages by providing mobile medical clinics and supporting community development projects like water filtration systems, school and dispensary construction and disaster relief.
FL
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Our hearts are with you and we salute you ...
Devastated to hear of the sad loss of Neil Roesler.
Helimission do such a fantastic work in the really remote places of this world - working entirely on donor funding and self funded missionary pilots and their families.
These pilots and their families are truly laying their lives down daily to serve those remote tribes, villages and communities both in practical caring and logistical support as well as in bringing the Gospel of new life in Jesus Christ to them.
At least Neil went out doing what he loved the most - flying helicopters and serving his Lord.
We pray for support and encouragment for his wife and young family, that they will always have a clear understanding of God's higher purpose and calling, that they will know that God has called their husband and father home to a better place, and that their heavenly Father will always be with them and will surely show them a new and exciting future in the years ahead.
His ways are higher than ours, but He loves us so dearly, even though sometimes we don't understand his ways ...
We are praying for you Sandy, Kaila and Micah ... Our hearts are with you and we salute you ...
Hope, indeed, has wings, and God will renew your strength ...
God Bless you, and also Andy McCain and his family with you in Indonesia, and all those serving the Lord in aviation around the world ...
Helimission do such a fantastic work in the really remote places of this world - working entirely on donor funding and self funded missionary pilots and their families.
These pilots and their families are truly laying their lives down daily to serve those remote tribes, villages and communities both in practical caring and logistical support as well as in bringing the Gospel of new life in Jesus Christ to them.
At least Neil went out doing what he loved the most - flying helicopters and serving his Lord.
We pray for support and encouragment for his wife and young family, that they will always have a clear understanding of God's higher purpose and calling, that they will know that God has called their husband and father home to a better place, and that their heavenly Father will always be with them and will surely show them a new and exciting future in the years ahead.
His ways are higher than ours, but He loves us so dearly, even though sometimes we don't understand his ways ...
We are praying for you Sandy, Kaila and Micah ... Our hearts are with you and we salute you ...
Hope, indeed, has wings, and God will renew your strength ...
God Bless you, and also Andy McCain and his family with you in Indonesia, and all those serving the Lord in aviation around the world ...