Runway Excursion, Smart Cakrawala Aviation (Pilatus PC6 Porter PK-SNB); Bayabiru Airstrip, KNKT.22.2.01.04

On 26 February 2022, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 aircraft, registration PK-SNB was being operated by PT Smart Cakrawala Aviation (Smart Aviation) to conduct unscheduled passenger flight. The flight plan route of the day was from Douw Aturure Airport (WABI), Nabire, Papua to Bayabiru Airstrip, Paniai, Papua and return for two times. All flights would be conducted following Visual Flight Rules (VFR) on a single-pilot operation.

The first flight to Bayabiru was uneventful, and the pilot noticed that the soil of the runway surface was soft and some of area was muddy.

At 0029 UTC (0929 LT), on a daylight condition, the aircraft departed from Nabire to Bayabiru for the second flight with five passengers on board.

The aircraft cruised at altitude of 7,500 feet and the flight was uneventful until commencing landing approach to Runway 10 at Bayabiru. On final the pilot observed the weather was on visual meteorological condition (VMC) and based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) flight data record indicated that the wind was calm.

At 0959 LT, the aircraft touched down Runway 10 at Bayabiru and veered to the left. The pilot attempted to recover the aircraft to the center of the runway. The aircraft then skidded, and the left-wing tip impacted to bushes on the higher ground on the left runway strip. Thereafter, the aircraft swinged to the left then the right wing, followed by the aircraft nose, impacted to the higher ground on the left of the runway strip.

After the aircraft stopped, the pilot and the passenger evacuated from the aircraft by themselves. No one injured in this occurrence and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

Following this occurrence, KNKT issued safety recommendation to the aircraft operator to address safety issues identified in this report.

The investigation involved the participation of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) as the State of Design and the State of Manufacture. The agency has appointed accredited representatives to assist the investigation in accordance with the provisions in ICAO Annex 13.

The investigation is continuing, should any further relevant safety issues emerge during the course of the investigation, KNKT will immediately bring the issues to the attention of the relevant parties and publish as required.