The Airlines PNG Dash 8 was flying from Lae to Madang on the country's north coast when it crashed at about 5pm local time (6pm AEDT) last night with 32 people on board. Only four are believed to have survived. An Australian pilot is one of the four survived the  crash in Papua New Guinea's north coast in which 28 people are believed to have died. The twin-propeller plane crashed in dense forest, near the mouth of the Gogol River, about 20 kilometres south of the resort centre of Madang. It is believed most of the passengers were parents travelling to Madang for their children's graduation ceremony at the Divine Word University, this week end.

The survivors include an Australian pilot and a New Zealand pilot, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Police and ambulances had reached the crash site and investigators would travel there Friday. Local reports say the survivors were taken to a clinic in a village close to the crash site last night.

More than 20 planes have crashed since 2000 in Papua New Guinea, whose rugged terrain and lack of internal connecting roads make air travel crucial for its 6 million citizens.

For all emergency information about the family or friends on the plane are being urged to call a DFAT hotline on 1300 555 135.