The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report on the June 2012 inflight breakup of a Pilatus PC-12 over Central Florida highlights the risks of flying a high-performance airplane in IMC with minimum training and experience.
Pilatus PC-12 Crash: NTSB Points to Surprising Cause
Key Takeaways:
- The NTSB determined the Pilatus PC-12 inflight breakup, which killed all six on board, was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain control after the autopilot disconnected in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- Instead of immediately recovering the aircraft from an uncontrolled roll and descent, the pilot attempted to test the autopilot, leading to a severe overspeed condition and subsequent structural failure when he finally pulled back abruptly on the yoke.
- A significant contributing factor was the pilot's limited experience in high-performance turboprop aircraft and a long absence from actual IMC flight, which hindered his ability to effectively respond to the emergency.
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