What happened
A single-engine aircraft was conducting a repositioning flight from Whitegrass Airport on Tannu Island toward Port Vila. The flight was carrying a pilot and six passengers at the time of the incident.
As the aircraft approached Efate Island, the pilot encountered severe weather characterized by heavy rainfall. In response to these deteriorating conditions, the pilot initiated an emergency landing in a garden area located at the Lagon Resort, south of Port Vila. Upon contacting the ground, the aircraft experienced a loss of the nose gear and the left main landing gear. The impact caused the plane to cartwheel, which ultimately resulted in the airframe breaking into two separate pieces. All seven occupants sustained minor injuries during the accident, and the single-engine aircraft was declared a total loss.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the emergency landing was the encounter with heavy rainfall and poor visibility during the approach to Efate Island.