From the report at
AO-2009-072
The flight crew stated that, on reaching the planned cruising altitude, the headwind gradually increased and, in response, the engine thrust settings were reduced to increase the aircraft’s range.
During the flight, meteorological information was received from Auckland Oceanic2 that indicated the weather at the island was deteriorating. The flight crew reported that they also monitored the weather reports for Norfolk Island during the flight and, at 0904, they requested the 0900 Norfolk Island automatic weather report3.
The crew subsequently received an updated weather report that was issued at 0902. The report indicated that the weather conditions had deteriorated from those forecast at the time of the flight’s departure from Apia.
At 0928, the flight crew contacted the Norfolk Island Unicom4 operator (Norfolk Unicom), advising that they were about 20 minutes from the airport. Norfolk Unicom provided an updated weather report, indicating a deterioration in the conditions to well below the landing minima5. Subsequently, the crew sought regular weather updates from Norfolk Unicom as they descended, and also requested the operator to proceed to each end of the runway to assess the weather conditions in order to supplement the official weather report.deteriorated from those forecast at the time of the flight’s departure from Apia.
At 0904 when the WX was obtained surely an immediate diversion to Noumea or Auckland wouldn't have put the a/c in the drink when it lists their 4th go-around as occuring at 1025 - so nearly an hour and a half and all at low altitude.
The pilot in command moved rearwards from the cockpit into the cabin and ascertained that the main door was not usable. Continuing rearwards to the two emergency exits in the fuselage centre section, the pilot in command opened the port emergency exit, and water immediately flowed in through the door opening. The pilot in command exited the aircraft. The copilot sustained injuries from a reported contact with the control yoke during the aircraft’s second impact with the water. The copilot was not aware of the pilot in command leaving the cockpit, and may have lost consciousness for a short period of time. The copilot experienced difficulties when attempting to find an exit route from the aircraft by the main door. The copilot then swam rearward along the fuselage, located an emergency exit door by touch, and exited the aircraft.