- Date
- July 8, 2015, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Belgrade, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N220CLPilatus PC12
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Tailstrike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150708011029A
- Case key
- 91532
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of pitch control during an instructional maneuver, which resulted in a tail strike during landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During a pilot competency checkride, while on downwind in the traffic pattern, the pilot reported that the examiner requested a zero flap, power off, 180 degree approach and landing. As the airplane arrived at the threshold, the pilot noted higher than normal airspeed and a greater than normal approach angle of attack. The pilot increased the angle of attack until the stick shaker activated and then performed a go around maneuver. During the go around, the tail struck the runway, but the pilot reported that he did not remember feeling the tail touch the runway. After the go around, the pilot completed the maneuver without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder during the tailstrike. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
During a pilot competency checkride, while on downwind in the traffic pattern, the pilot reported that the examiner requested a zero flap, power off, 180 degree approach and landing. As the airplane arrived at the threshold, the pilot noted higher than normal airspeed and a greater than normal approach angle of attack. The pilot increased the angle of attack until the stick shaker activated and then performed a go around maneuver. During the go around, the tail struck the runway, but the pilot reported that he did not remember feeling the tail touch the runway. After the go around, the pilot completed the maneuver without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder during the tailstrike. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N220CL
- Reported as
- Pilatus PC12 (45)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 364
- Built
- 2001
- Airframe hours
- 3,761
- Engine
- P&W Canada PT6A-67B, 1,600 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Montana Aircraft Inc
- Registered owner
- Bozeman Technology Incubator Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 2015
- Departed
- BZN · Belgrade, MT
- Destination
- BZN · Belgrade, MT
- Airport
- BZN · Bozeman Yellowstone Intl, runway 12, 8,994 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Onboard weather
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 28, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,670 total · 130 in this make and model · 1,842 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Check pilot
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 29, 2015
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 14,800 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KBZN
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.