20220213001849A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Pilatus PC-12/47E · Beaufort, NC · February 13, 2022

Date: February 13, 2022 · 14:04 local
Place: Beaufort, NC
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N79NX
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22LA120
Reported as: Pilatus PC-12/47E
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P
People aboard: 8
Fatal injuries: 8
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot

N79NXRegistration cancelled Jun 17, 2023 · Pilatus PC-12/47ES/N 1709 · Built 2017 Airframe modelPilatus PC-12/47E Engine modelPratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67PTurbo-prop

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft was cleared for the approach to rwy 26 at kmrh airport and instructed to maintain 1,900 MSL. ATC observed the aircraft at 1,700 ' and called out the current altimeter setting. The pilot read back the setting correctly. This was the last communication from the pilot. The aircraft was then observed at 4,700' and climbing. The controller called out to the aircraft but there was no response. ATC lost radar contact with the aircraft at 1404 local. The aircraft impacted the water and was destroyed at impact.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED FOR THE APPROACH TO RWY 26 AT KMRH AIRPORT AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN 1,900 MSL. ATC OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT AT 1,700 ' AND CALLED OUT THE CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. THE PILOT READ BACK THE SETTING CORRECTLY. THIS WAS THE LAST COMMUNICATION FROM THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN OBSERVED AT 4,700' AND CLIMBING. THE CONTROLLER CALLED OUT TO THE AIRCRAFT BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. ATC LOST RADAR CONTACT WITH THE AIRCRAFT AT 1404 LOCAL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER AND WAS DESTROYED AT IMPACT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA22LA120Accident · 8 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBeaufort, NCThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, inadequate inflight monitoring of the airplane’s flight parameters, and his failure to regain control of the airplane following entry into an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. The pilot’s likely spatial disorientation…Feb 13, 2022 · Destroyed