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 inflight breakup of a Pilatus PC-12 was caused by the pilot's failure to maintain control after an autopilot disconnect while climbing in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
- Instead of immediately recovering, the pilot tested the autopilot system, leading to the aircraft entering an uncontrolled dive at excessive speed, which resulted in structural failure when the pilot pulled back on the yoke.
- A significant contributing factor was the pilot's minimal experience in high-performance turboprops and actual IMC, which affected his ability to respond appropriately to the emergency.
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