What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, an Uzu Air flight was scheduled to depart Horn Island at 13:30 EST, traveling via Coconut, Yam, and York Islands before returning to Horn Island. The aircraft, a Britten Norman Islander with registration VH-XFF, was tasked with transporting three passengers and approximately 130 kg of cargo during the initial leg of the journey. Earlier that day, another pilot had operated the same aircraft for nearly two hours without incident.
Observers at Horn Island noted that the flight preparations and the 13:50 departure appeared routine. During the flight, the pilot communicated his position to another company pilot, reporting he was 15 NM southwest of Coconut Island at an altitude of 3,500 feet. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported being on the downwind leg for runway 27 at Coconut Island, with all radio transmissions appearing normal.
Witnesses located near the eastern end of Coconut Island, close to the runway threshold, observed the aircraft performing a standard left circuit. The aircraft maintained a stable approach until it reached an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet over their position. At that point, the aircraft drifted left and began a shallow climb, followed by a sudden right roll and a steep descent. The aircraft impacted a tidal flat roughly 30 meters seaward of the high-water mark. The accident resulted in three fatalities and one serious injury.