On February 24, 2023, at 2114 Pacific standard time, a Pilatus PC-12/45, N273SM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stagecoach, Nevada. The pilot, and four passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air ambulance flight.
The flight, operated by Guardian Flight LLC, 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.
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We determined the probable cause(s) of this accident to be 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 disengagement of the autopilot for undetermined reasons, as well as the operator’s insufficient flight risk assessment process and lack of organizational oversight.
