Accident Sequence
During the final approach to Tau Airport, the copilot did not call out low airspeed. The aircraft subsequently executed an improper level off, resulting in a hard landing. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. After the bounce, the aircraft veered off the runway and collided with trees. All 18 occupants were rescued, with one passenger sustaining serious injuries.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause was determined to be a hard landing and subsequent collision with trees due to an improper level off. The investigation reported the following contributing factors: improper recovery from the bounced landing, the copilot's failure to follow approved procedures, and the copilot not calling out low airspeed on final approach.