Niugini Aviation Services P-750 XSTOL crashes, three dead

By Andrew Curran.

Three people have died following the crash of a Niugini Aviation Services Pacific Aerospace P-750 XSTOL turboprop in Papua New Guinea on September 7, 2026. The aircraft has been identified as P2-RNA (msn 184).

The P-750 XSTOL (formerly the PAC 750XL) is a single-engine, low-wing turboprop utility aircraft built in New Zealand. The aircraft is understood to be between ten and 12 years old.

It was aircraft was flying from Mount Hagen (HGU) to Simbai (SIM) when the country navigation and air traffic control provider, NiuskyPacific Ltd, received a COSPAS-SARSAT distress signal from the aircraft, then just 6.7 kilometres southeast of Simbai.

Poor weather at time of accident

Search and rescue teams were activated and the wreckage of the aircraft was found close to the location of the distress signal. A helicopter was unable to land at the site due to weather conditions, but a team trekked to the site on foot and found the wreckage and three deceased people.

Papua New Guinea’s Accident Investigation Commission, which is overseeing the investigation, said weather conditions at the location were “deteriorating” at the time of the accident.

Investigators will now try to determine whether weather, terrain, mechanical issues or other factors contributed to the accident. The pilot was described as “very experienced.”

Same aircraft involved in hard landing at Goroka in August

This aircraft was in the news last month after it burst its left main landing gear tyre while landing at Goroka Airport on August 5, 2026. 

As previously reported, Niugini Aviation has a minimal online presence, and its website is out of order. Papua New Guinea's aircraft register, maintained by the country's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and current as of April 2026, indicates that Niugini Aviation has five aircraft, including four P-750 XSTOLs and one Cessna 206, although flight-tracking websites indicate that most are not currently in use.

Niugini Aviation's abbreviated Facebook page indicates that it operates government-subsidised freight flights from remote airstrips to larger towns, transporting commodities such as coffee to market. The operator has not made any public statements about the accident.

The Accident Investigation Commission says a preliminary report will be prepared  and published within 30 days of the accident..

You can read the Accident Investigation Commission's initial statement here.

Photo: Niugini Aviation Services.
Contact the writer: andree@aerosouthpacific.com