On the 3rd. January 1956, Nate Saint started ferrying his companions, Jim Elliott, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully, and Roger Youderian, and their survival equipment in his yellow Piper aircraft to the planned landing spot. The aircraft had been modified by installing a larger engine, more powerful brakes and a number of safety features; it had been ideal for the gift drops because of its ability to fly in circles at a low speed. The first landing was something of an experiment; Nate could not be sure that the sand would be firm enough to support the weight of the aircraft, but he came in on his final approach low and slow, and on touch down the extra large tyres worked well. It took many flights from the airstrip at Arajuno to 'Palm Beach' to ferry everyone and everything, but on the last flight, Nate circled low over the Waorani house before landing, to encourage them to come to visit them. Finally assembled at Palm Beach, they made a camp, with a tree house for extra security at night and they settled down to wait.

They waited for three days until on the 6th. January three Waorani: Naenkiwi, a man of about thirty; Dayuma's teenage sister Gimari; and her aunt Mintaka; walked the four miles from the house to the riverbank where the aeroplane had landed. After initial greetings, Naenkiwi indicated, by drawing in the sand, that he wanted a ride in the plane, so Nate flew him over his house. The following day, Naenkiwi and Gimari went home. Naenkiwi, embroiled in personal tensions of his own making, concerning his relationship with Gimari, lied to the others that the missionaries had tried to kill them, that they were cannibals, and that they had also killed Dayuma. As a result, five Waorani men: Gikita, Dyuwe, Minkaye, Kimo and Nimonga plotted to kill the missionaries and made spears. On the afternoon of the 8th. January, the Indians attacked; the five missionaries were speared to death, and their bodies left by the river. Dayuma's brother Nampa was hit in the head by a bullet from one of the missionary's pistols, and died much later.