Britten-Norman Islander crash, Apr 13, 2016 (12 killed)
Britten-Norman Islander accident on April 13, 2016 near Kiunga, Western (Fly), Papua New Guinea with 12 fatalities. Cause: AIC PNG: the centre of...
- Date: April 13, 2016
- Aircraft: Britten-Norman Islander
- Location: Kiunga, Western (Fly), Papua New Guinea
- Fatalities: 12
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: AIC PNG: the centre of gravity was significantly aft of the aft limit, so nose down elevator and trim had little effect once landing flap was set; the wings stalled at low height and recovery was not possible. Unverified loading, uncomputed centre of gravity and poor HF radio reception were noted as other safety factors.
On 13 April 2016 a Sunbird Aviation Britten Norman BN2T Islander (P2SBC) on a visual charter flight from Tekin to Kiunga in Papua New Guinea crashed on final approach with 12 people on board, and all of them died. Witnesses said the aircraft pitched up almost vertically, its right wing dropped and it fell to the ground about 1200 metres west of the runway 07 threshold. The PNG Accident Investigation Commission, with technical help from the ATSB, found that the centre of gravity was significantly aft of the limit.