|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| Kiunga Aviation |
Aircraft History Built by Cessna. Constructors Number 18501947. Owned by Kiunga Aviation / Richard Leahy and based at Nadzab Airfield. Resistered as P2-MJL in honor of his father, New Guinea explorer Michael "Mick" James Leahy. On March 5, 1979 this aircraft flipped upside down during take off from Kisengan Airfield after the wheels sank into soft ground. There was no injury and the aircraft was righted and repaired. Mission History On December 30, 2009 in the early morning took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by Richard Leahy with six Papua New Guinea passengers (including two children) on a charter flight bound for Baindoang Airfield. While enroute, the plane suffered a loss of pressure and total engine failure and made an emergency radio call. Immediately, a helicopter in the vicinity diverted to render aid. Wreckage At 6:15am the plane crashed in the Sarawaget Range near Boana, Morobe Province between Gumbum village and Tunam village. On impact, the pilot was thrown clear and the passengers died in the crash. The plane was destroyed in the crash and fire with only the tail section and an outer wing intact. Pilot Richard Leahy was thrown clear but suffered suffered severe burns, and was airlifted by helicopter to Lae, then medical evacuated to Cairns and Brisbane where he was admitted to Royal Brisbane Hospital. Meanwhile, locals helped transport the bodies of deceased passengers to Angau Memorial Hospital. References Wikipedia: Kiunga Aviation / P2-MJL Six die in Papua New Guinea plane crash December 31, 2009 RNZI: Six die in Papua New Guinea plane crash December 31, 2009 Post Courier "Plane crash in Morobe... six people dead" December 31, 2009 Malumnalu Nalu - First Pictures of Yesterdays Plane December 31, 2009 Aviation Safety Network - Cessna P2-MJL Cessna 185 flipped upside down on takeoff March 5, 1979 SMH "Plane crash: Six dead as Aussie pilot fights for life" December 31, 2009 SMH "Plane crash pilot known as 'Captain Cautious" January 1, 2009 Digital Journal "Explorer's son seriously injured in PNG plane crash" January 1, 2009 Samoa Observer "Pilot’s mission to honour war dead in PNG" January 3, 2010 Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
