Papua New Guinea's Accident Investigation Commission has released a preliminary reports into a light airplane crash at the centre of a major drug bust.
The Commission's investigation into the Cessna aircraft crashing near Port Moresby last month is separate to the police investigation into the plane's alleged cargo of around 600 kilogrammes of cocaine.
The Australian pilot, David John Cutmore, has been charged by police for drug smuggling and breaching PNG immigration rules.
A Cessna twin engine aircraft crashed on an old airstrip outside PNG's capital on Sunday 26 July on a suspected drug run. Photo: RPNGC
The AIC's report found that the twin-engine aircraft, which flew to PNG from Australia with its transponder switched off, later impacted trees during an aborted take-off at an uncommissioned airfield near Papa-Lealea.
The pilot stated as his aircraft took off, he noticed that the airspeed indicator was not working and that the aircraft could not achieve a positive rate of climb.
According to the AIC report, the pilot subsequently aborted take-off and the aircraft touched down about 850 metres into the field, colliding with trees during its landing roll.
After activation of an Emergency Locator Transmitter distress signal, a team of AIC investigators was dispatched to the area.
When they arrived, PNG police along with Australian Federal Police were already at the site conducting inquiries.
Initially the pilot and cargo were missing. Within several days the pilot had handed himself in to authorities and PNG police found the cocaine.
Following the drug seizure and the arrest of several members of an alleged drug syndicate in Australia, police indicated it was opssible that the weight of the cocaine packages could have played a part in the airplane's crash. However the AIC has not addressed this in its report.
Earlier this week, an Italian yachtsman and three PNG men appeared in the Waigani Committal Court, all charged under the Customs Act in relation to the alleged drug smuggling.
