What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On July 5, 2009 at 1004 eastern daylight time, N578DC, a Pilatus PC12/45 aircraft crashed near Raphine, VA. The pilot told air traffic control that he required radar vectors because he had "lost my panel." Moments later the aircraft descended rapidly and crashed. At the time, the pilot was attempting to avoid weather by climbing the aircraft in IMC from FL300 to FL320. The highest altitude achieved was FL308. The maximum operating altitude limit for the Pilatus PC12 is 30,000 feet. The pilot and all three passengers were fatally injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JULY 5, 2009 AT 1004 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, N578DC, A PILATUS PC12/45 AIRCRAFT CRASHED NEAR RAPHINE, VA. THE PILOT TOLD AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT HE REQUIRED RADAR VECTORS BECAUSE HE HAD "LOST MY PANEL." MOMENTS LATER THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED RAPIDLY AND CRASHED. AT THE TIME, THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID WEATHER BY CLIMBING THE AIRCRAFT IN IMC FROM FL300 TO FL320. THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE ACHIEVED WAS FL308. THE MAXIMUM OPERATING ALTITUDE LIMIT FOR THE PILATUS PC12 IS 30,000 FEET. THE PILOT AND ALL THREE PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.