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NTSB Report
March 22, 2009 · Pilatus PC-12/45 · N128CM
Butte, MT
Overview
Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 22, 2009
Injury Outcomes
14 injuries (14 fatalities)
Location
Butte, MT
Aircraft
Pilatus PC-12/45
Tail Number
N128CM
Operator
Eagle Cap Leasing
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09MA159
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/reports_aviation.html. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11-05. On March 22, 2009, about 1432 mountain daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12/45, N128CM, was diverting to Bert Mooney Airport (BTM), Butte, Montana, when it crashed about 2,100 feet west of runway 33 at BTM. The pilot and the 13 airplane passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The airplane was owned by Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Oregon, and was operating as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Oroville Municipal Airport, Oroville, California, on an instrument flight rules flight plan with a destination of Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
NTSB Probable Cause
(1) the pilot's failure to ensure that a fuel system icing inhibitor was added to the fuel before the flights on the day of the accident; (2) his failure to take appropriate remedial actions after a low fuel pressure state (resulting from icing within the fuel system) and a lateral fuel imbalance developed, including diverting to a suitable airport before the fuel imbalance became extreme; and (3) a loss of control while the pilot was maneuvering the left wing-heavy airplane near the approach end of the runway.
Full Narrative
The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/reports_aviation.html. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-11-05. On March 22, 2009, about 1432 mountain daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12/45, N128CM, was diverting to Bert Mooney Airport (BTM), Butte, Montana, when it crashed about 2,100 feet west of runway 33 at BTM. The pilot and the 13 airplane passengers were fatally injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces and a postcrash fire. The airplane was owned by Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Oregon, and was operating as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight departed Oroville Municipal Airport, Oroville, California, on an instrument flight rules flight plan with a destination of Gallatin Field, Bozeman, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 MDT
Nearest AirportBert Mooney Airport (0nm)
Runway33
Runway Length9001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd
Aircraft
AircraftPilatus PC-12/45
Tail NumberN128CM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEagle Cap Leasing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP & W Canada · PT6A-67B · Turboprop · 1200
Seats10
People & Injuries
Injury Summary14 injuries (14 fatalities)
Fatal14
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total14
Crew 1Age 65 · Second Class · Fatal
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 8 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 27 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC