Communications Lost Soon after Ill-fated PC-12 Departed | Aviation International News

Communications Lost Soon after Ill-fated PC-12 Departed

An NTSB preliminary report says the crew of the Pilatus PC-12 that broke up in flight on February 24 made their last radio call 8 minutes after takeoff.

Flight track of the Guardian Flight air ambulance Pilatus PC-12 that broke up in flight near Stagecoach, Nevada, on February 24 — An NTSB preliminary report says the crew of the Pilatus PC-12 that broke up in flight on February 24 made their last radio call 8 minutes after takeoff. (Photo: NTSB)

By Gordon Gilbert • Contributor - Accidents and Regulations

March 17, 2023

The crew of the Guardian Flight air ambulance Pilatus PC-12 that broke up in flight near Stagecoach, Nevada, on February 24 made their last radio call at approximately 9:08 p.m. at 15,400 feet, according to a newly released NTSB preliminary report. In that communication, the pilot acknowledged an ATC instruction to climb to and maintain FL250 and the caution for light to moderate turbulence.

Review of ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed Reno-Tahoe Airport at about 9 p.m. on an IFR flight to transport a patient to Salt Lake City. The turboprop single continued on southerly heading until about 9:05 p.m., when it turned left to a southeasterly heading at an altitude of 12,100 feet. As the airplane turned southeast, it climbed to 15,700 feet and then turned northeast.

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