De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter crash, Nov 9, 1997, Simbai
De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident on November 9, 1997 near Simbai, Madang, Papua New Guinea with no fatalities. Cause: Navigation error in a deep...
- Date: November 9, 1997
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter
- Location: Simbai, Madang, Papua New Guinea
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Navigation error in a deep valley of the Bismarck Range, with inadequate planning, risk assessment and supervision by the training pilot, and an unsuitable navigation chart.
An Australian Army Twin Otter on a training flight in Papua New Guinea descended into a valley near Simbai after the crew diverted from their planned track in haze and cloud. The aircraft struck the trees and crashed, and the crew survived. The ATSB and BASI investigation found planning, risk assessment and training supervision deficiencies.