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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report on the July 26 fatal Pilatus PC12-47E accident in Wyoming. The report corroborates earlier findings that the single-engine turboprop, with seven individuals on board including the owner-pilot, crashed following an apparent loss of autopilot function and subsequent loss of control.
According to the NTSB, about an hour into the flight from Nebraska City Airport to Billings Logan International Airport in Montana, the aircraft (N357HE), cruising at 26,000 feet, veered right off course and climbed to approximately 27,550 feet. It then executed a right 270-degree turn. During the first 180 degrees of this turn, it descended to around 25,250 feet before climbing back up to 27,025 feet in the final 90 degrees.
Following this maneuver was a slight left turn succeeded by a descending 180-degree right turn. The pilot reported to Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center that he had lost his autopilot and was attempting to regain control of the aircraft. The last recorded data point indicated N347HE on a southerly heading at 21,900 feet. There were no further communications with air traffic control before the crash occurred approximately 12 miles northeast of Recluse, Wyoming.
