Meet the site
On the night of 18 November 2009, a Pel-Air IAI Westwind 1124A (VH-NGA), flying a medical evacuation from Samoa to Melbourne, was unable to land at Norfolk Island in poor weather and, low on fuel, ditched in the sea about 6.4 km west-south-west of Norfolk Island Airport. All six people on board – the two pilots, a doctor, a nurse, the patient and her partner – survived and were rescued by local fishermen after about 90 minutes in the water. The accident and the original ATSB investigation became the subject of a Senate inquiry and a re-opened investigation.
The aircraft sank and came to rest on the seabed at about 48 m, roughly 4.5 km west of the island. A March 2015 survey by NSW Police and Australian Federal Police divers found it largely intact: both wings, both engines, and the rear fuselage and tail were still attached, with the tail section partially buried by moving sand. The flight recorders were retrieved from the wreck on 11 November 2015. Bounty Divers, the Norfolk dive operator at the time, posted footage from reconnaissance dives at 40–45 m, reported the fuselage in two pieces at 54 m, and filmed a shark on the wreck.
For divers, the Westwind is a deep technical dive on a modern aircraft wreck of historical interest in Australian aviation safety. It lies well beyond recreational limits, in open water off an exposed coast, and there is no chamber on Norfolk Island – any decompression illness would require a long aeromedical evacuation. It is not on any operator's regular list and would need to be run as a self-sufficient technical expedition with local boat support.
The wreck's exact position is not published and it may be treated as a site of significance; divers should seek advice from Norfolk Island authorities before attempting it and must not remove anything.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Pel-Air Westwind wreck is recorded as Aircraft Wreck in Norfolk Island. The listed access is boat (day trip). Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Current and timing
- Ask how the operator assesses the current window for the actual route. Historical tide notes are not a departure instruction.
- Lines and obstructions
- Discuss any known entanglement concerns and the suitability of the planned area.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Pel-Air Westwind wreck suitable for my certification?
The record lists Technical (decompression). That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Pel-Air Westwind wreck through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Sharks (recorded on footage), pelagic fish
Location
The largely intact wreck of the Pel-Air IAI Westwind medevac jet that ditched on 18 November 2009, lying at about 48 m roughly 4.5–6 km west of the island.
Facilities nearby
Departure from Kingston or Cascade Pier (crane launch).
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
australianaviation.com.auen.wikipedia.orgbountydivers.blogspot.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.