Sydney, Aug 12 (DPA) The wreckage of a light plane with 13 people on board that went missing in Papua New Guinea has been found, officials said Wednesday.

The Twin Otter went missing Tuesday after leaving Port Moresby on a three-hour flight to Kokoda. There was no word of the passengers, who included nine Australians and a Japanese national.

'I don't know any specific details at this time, all I've been told is that it has been located,' Civil Aviation Authority chief Joseph Kintau told Australia ABC Radio in Port Moresby.

He said the chances of finding survivors in the rugged Owen Stanley Ranges north of Port Moresby were very slim.

'In that kind of area, on past experience, very unlikely.