De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash-8) crash, Oct 13, 2011 (28 killed)
De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash-8) accident on October 13, 2011 near Madang, Madang, Papua New Guinea with 28 fatalities. Cause: The pilot moved the power...
- Date: October 13, 2011
- Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-8-100 (Dash-8)
- Location: Madang, Madang, Papua New Guinea
- Fatalities: 28
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: The pilot moved the power levers below the flight idle gate in flight after a VMO overspeed warning, causing a loss of propeller speed control and a double propeller overspeed. The investigation also found a systemic design issue that allowed this movement, a propeller beta switch malfunction, and the absence of emergency procedures.
An Airlines PNG Dash 8 flying Port Moresby to Madang in thunderstorms descended steeply and exceeded its maximum speed. The pilot pulled the power levers back below the flight idle gate, which led to a double propeller overspeed. Both engines were lost and the aircraft force-landed beside the Guabe River, where it burned, with 28 fatalities and four survivors.