A Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL operated by Niugini Aviation Services crashed near Simbai in Papua New Guinea’s Madang Province, killing all three people aboard.
The accident occurred on September 7, 2026, during a flight from Mount Hagen to Simbai. The aircraft, registered P2-RNA, was carrying one pilot and two passengers.
According to Papua New Guinea’s National Broadcasting Corporation, the aircraft departed Mount Hagen at about 1:02 p.m. and was due in Simbai around 20 minutes later. When it failed to arrive, a search was launched. A distress signal was detected around six miles south of Simbai.
Rescue teams located the wreckage later in the afternoon in a wooded, mountainous area. No survivors were found, and significant fire damage was reported on the aircraft.
Official investigation opened, with no cause established
Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission (AIC) recorded the event under reference AIC 26-1004. The investigation is ongoing and no cause has been established.
Initial information indicated poor weather in the area during the search, but investigators had not confirmed any causal link between weather and the accident.
The PAC 750XL is a single-engine turboprop designed for utility work and short-field operations and is widely used in remote regions. P2-RNA was listed on Papua New Guinea’s civil register under Niugini Aviation Services.
Investigators will need to examine the aircraft, weather, flight path, operational decisions and any available maintenance or recorded data before identifying a probable cause.
Sources
Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission; National Broadcasting Corporation PNG; Aero South Pacific.
Related: San Diego: two killed in Montgomery-Gibbs crash, another recent general-aviation accident followed by AeroSillage.
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