Country
Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/47E near Gillette: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 26, 2024 at 1305 LT
Registration:
N357HE
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nebraska City - Billings
MSN:
1203
YOM:
2010
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Nebraska City Airport on a flight to Billings, carrying six passengers and one pilot. While cruising at FL260, the pilot informed ATC he was losing control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in a dense wooded area located about 50 km north of the Northeast Wyoming Regional Airport located near Gillette. The airplane disintegrated and all seven occupants were killed, among them three members of the Southern Gospel band 'The Nelons'
Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/47E in Courchevel
Date & Time:
Feb 17, 2024 at 1025 LT
Operator:
Registration:
OO-PCN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charleroi – Courchevel
MSN:
1819
YOM:
2018
Flight number:
PGC16F
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
800.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
97
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Charleroi Airport on a positioning flight to Courchevel where seven passengers were supposed to be picked up. While descending to Courchevel Altiport, the crew completed the approach checklist, passed over the airfield to check the runway and both windsocks then made a circuit and started a second approach to land. On short final to runway 22, the airplane descended below the altitude of 6,371 feet corresponding to the runway threshold. At a distance of 0,1 NM (185 metres) from the threshold, the airplane descended at an altitude of 6,354 feet and at a speed of 84 knots. At this moment, the pilot significantly increased the aircraft's pitch attitude by reducing the engine power until it was completely shut down. This caused the airplane to descend too low and both main landing gear and the nose gear impacted an embankment located below the runway threshold. Upon impact, the left main gear was torn off and the airplane bounced several times on runway before veering to the left. The left wing collided with a snow berm located on the left side of the runway and was sheared off. The airplane then entered the snow berm, made a 180 turn and came to rest in the snow. Both crew members escaped with minor injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot began his descent late, forcing him to adopt a higher glide slope than the 5% recommended in the absence of wind, with the middle of the embankment below the runway threshold as his target point. As he approached the threshold, the pilot simultaneously increased the aircraft's pitch significantly and reduced engine power completely, causing the landing gear to collide with the embankment.
The following factors may have contributed to the unstabilized approach and collision with the embankment;
- The captain's limited experience flying in the mountains and at the Courchevel Altiport ;
- The length of the pilot's practical training for access authorization, which seems insufficient given his lack of previous experience landing at altiports;
- The first officer's lack of experience flying in the mountains, which prevented him from fulfilling his role of monitoring the flight path followed by the PF during the approach.
The following factors may have contributed to the unstabilized approach and collision with the embankment;
- The captain's limited experience flying in the mountains and at the Courchevel Altiport ;
- The length of the pilot's practical training for access authorization, which seems insufficient given his lack of previous experience landing at altiports;
- The first officer's lack of experience flying in the mountains, which prevented him from fulfilling his role of monitoring the flight path followed by the PF during the approach.
Final Report:
Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/45 near San Angelo: 2 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 14, 2023 at 1318 LT
Registration:
N188PC
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jacksonville – San Angelo
MSN:
188
YOM:
1997
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on final approach to San Angelo-Mathis Field, the single engine airplane entered a rapid descent with a rate of 5,058 feet per minute then crashed in an open field located about 12 km south of the airport. The airplane was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Crash of a Pilatus PC-12/45 in Kasabonika
Date & Time:
Nov 21, 2023 at 1938 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GEOW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sioux Lookout – Kasabonika
MSN:
244
YOM:
1999
Flight number:
BF712
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
2000.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
430
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed the Sioux Lookout Airport (CYXL), Ontario, at 1820LT on an instrument flight rules flight to the Kasabonika Airport (CYAQ), Ontario, with 2 pilots and 6 passengers on board. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer (FO) was the pilot monitoring. On approach to CYAQ, the pilots conducted an area navigation approach to Runway 03, using the autopilot coupled with a GPS (global positioning system). The captain then turned off the autopilot at 1000 feet above ground level (AGL) per the aircraft’s pilot operating handbook (POH) limitation. The approach continued at 120 knots ground speed with the flaps set to 15°. The aircraft touched down approximately 1,200 feet beyond the threshold of Runway 03 at 102 knots ground speed. During the landing roll, the captain applied reverse thrust momentarily, which resulted in a slight yawing motion of the aircraft. The reverse thrust was returned to the idle position, and directional control was restored. The captain then fully applied the brakes; however, at 1938, the aircraft skidded and overshot the end of the runway. The aircraft came to rest approximately 350 feet beyond the runway surface. The aircraft cabin remained upright and intact. The passengers and crew were not injured and were able to egress though the main cabin door. The aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter activated.
Probable cause:
The weather conditions present and forecast during the occurrence showed winds moving westerly to become favorable for takeoffs and landings on Runway 21. The final approach was 120 knots ground speed during the last 500 feet of the approach. The aircraft crossed the threshold at 110 knots ground speed and touched down approximately 1200 feet beyond the threshold at 102 knots ground speed. The manufacturer’s landing performance specifications in the POH are provided for dry and paved runway conditions only. The Pilatus PC-12/45 aircraft’s normal approach speed for landing with 15° flaps is 98 KIAS. 14 However, the aircraft had an approach speed of 120 knots ground speed. Because the final approach ground speed exceeded the Pilatus PC-12’s landing performance charts found in the POH,15 it was not possible to calculate the distance the aircraft would have needed given these conditions. In addition, the charts in the POH do not provide compensation for gravel runways or for runway contaminants such as ice, rain, or snow. Based on calculations made using the aircraft’s landing performance charts, when landing with a 10-knot tailwind (the maximum charted tailwind) and without the use of reverse thrust, the aircraft would need 3458 feet of available runway.
Final Report:
