# Accident 20230224004919A: Pilatus PC-12/45, Stagecoach, NV, February 24, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 24, 2023, 21:45 local time
- Place: Stagecoach, NV
- Airport: Reno/Tahoe International Airpo
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: G1IA
- Location: 39.3552° N, 119.4389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3552&lon=-119.4389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N273SM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N273SM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Pilatus PC-12/45 (registry code 7090551, https://openairdocs.org/model/pilatus-pc-12-45) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67B (registry code 52158, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PILATUS PC-12/45
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-67B
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 5
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,022 total, 110 in this make and model, 58 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23MA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23MA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230224004919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE FLIGHT, OPERATED BY^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, DEPARTED RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (RNO), RENO, NEVADA, TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT TO SALT LAKE CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SLC), SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. NIGHT INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND AN INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES (IFR) FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED AND ACTIVATED. A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF ARCHIVED VOICE COMMUNICATION INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION

ADMINISTRATION (FAA) REVEALED THAT THE PILOT CONTACTED OAKLAND AIR ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER (ARTCC) AT 2108:37, AND REPORTED THAT HE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 15,400 FT. THE CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO CLIMB AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL (FL) 250 AND ISSUED A CAUTION FOR LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE, WHICH WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE PILOT. NO FURTHER RADIO TRANSMISSIONS WERE RECEIVED FROM THE ACCIDENT

PILOT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23MA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23MA113), Feb 25, 2023: Pilatus PC-12/45 (N273SM), Stagecoach, NV, substantial damage, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control due to spatial disorientation while operating in night instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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