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 2012 Pilatus PC-12 inflight breakup was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain control after an autopilot disconnect in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- Instead of immediately recovering the aircraft, the pilot tested the autopilot, leading to an uncontrolled descent, excessive airspeed, and eventual structural failure when he aggressively pulled back on the yoke.
- The NTSB cited the pilot's severe lack of experience in high-performance turboprops and actual IMC flight as a primary contributing factor to the accident.
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