Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC 12 accident near Amarillo, TX
On April 29, 2017, a Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC 12 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Amarillo, TX. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 29, 2017
- Place
- Amarillo, TX
- Aircraft
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC 12 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.196°N, 101.705°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170429X35104
Official records · CEN17FA168
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Air Traffic Control Factual Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control Factual - Attachment 2 - Graphics: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control Factual - Attachment 3 - FAA 8020 Accident Notification: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control Factual - Attachment 4 - FAA Form 7230: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Air Traffic Control Factual - Attachment 5 - Covered Event Review: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 28, 2017, about 2348 central daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12 airplane, N933DC, impacted terrain near Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA), Amarillo, Texas. The airline transport pilot and the two medical flight crewmembers were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by Rico Aviation LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 as an air ambulance flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Clovis Municipal Airport (CVN), Clovis, New Mexico. The AMA-based flight crew was first notified of an air ambulance mission by the Rico Aviation medical dispatcher at 2248. The mission was to transport a patient from Clovis, New Mexico, to Lubbock, Texas. The mission was delayed until receiving arrangements were made for the patient at the destination medical facility. During the delay, the pilot continued his flight preparation, including requesting and receiving his air traffic control (ATC) clearance. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ATC data revealed that, at 2332:15, the pilot contacted AMA ground control, said that he had received automatic terminal information service Oscar, and requested an IFR clearance to CVN. At 2332:40, the ground controller issued the pilot a clearance to CVN "as filed" with a climb to a final altitude of 8,000 ft mean sea level (ms
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during the initial climb after takeoff in night instrument meteorological conditions and moderate turbulence.
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Browse: Texas · Pilatus aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
