What happened
On the morning of 24 February 2011, an Aero Commander 500S, operating under the registration VH-WZU, departed Cairns for a scheduled cargo charter to Horn Island, Queensland. The flight was being conducted under instrument flight rules. Around 07:20 EST, the pilot contacted air traffic control to report that the aircraft was in the vicinity of Horn Island but would maintain a holding pattern to the east of the island due to adverse weather conditions involving rain and low cloud cover.
Later, at approximately 07:50, the pilot notified other aircraft in the area that the plane was positioned north of Horn Island and planned to transition to a visual approach. Following the aircraft's failure to arrive at its destination, a search operation was initiated. Despite these efforts, no sign of the aircraft or the pilot was found during the initial search period.
Months later, on 10 October 2011, the wreckage of the aircraft was identified on the ocean floor, situated roughly 26 km north-north-west of Horn Island.
Findings
No specific findings regarding the mechanical state of the aircraft were provided, though the pilot had reported low cloud and rain prior to the disappearance.