An Australian Transport Safety Board (ATSB) report has blamed poor planning for the ditching of an IAI Westwind off Norfolk Island in 2009.
The medical transfer flight was en-route from Samoa to Melbourne on November 18 2009 when it was unable to land at Norfolk Island because weather was below the landing minima for both runways.
The crew made four aborted VOR approaches before electing to ditch the twin-engine jet whilst they still had some fuel in the tanks. All six on board managed to get out and were rescued by locals.
Released today, the ATSB report says the crew failed to properly monitor the deteriorating weather at Norfolk Island.
"The requirement to ditch resulted from incomplete pre-flight and en-route planning and the flight crew not assessing before it was too late to divert that a safe landing could not be assured," the report concludes.
"The crew’s assessment of their fuel situation, the worsening weather at Norfolk Island and the achievability of alternate destinations led to their decision to continue, rather than divert to a suitable alternate."
However, the aircraft operators themselves were subject to some critcism.
"The operator’s procedures and flight planning guidance managed risk consistent with regulatory provisions, but did not minimise the risks associated with aeromedical operations to remote islands. In addition, clearer guidance on the in-flight management of previously unforecast, but deteriorating, destination weather might have assisted the crew to consider and plan their diversion options earlier."
You can read the full report on the ATSB website here.