2009 Montana Pilatus PC-12 crash
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Pilatus
PC-12
crash occurred near Butte
, Montana
at approximately 14:32 local time (20:32 GMT
) on March 22, 2009. All 14 people on board the single engine turboprop
aircraft died when it crashed into a cemetery while on approach to Butte's Bert Mooney Airport
. The passengers — three families of friends with their children, all under 10 — were flying to a ski vacation near Bozeman, Montana
, but diverted to Butte while en route, for unknown reasons.
-made Pilatus PC-12
/45, FAA registration number N128CM, a single-engine turboprop
which is certified for a maximum of nine passengers, or eleven people including the pilot and copilot. The aircraft was Pilatus construction number 403, built in 2001 and certified in September 2002. The registered owner was Eagle Cap Leasing, Inc. of Enterprise, Oregon
, owned by the father of two of the passengers.
, California
, was a former US Air Force pilot, who had reportedly logged more than 8,500 civilian flight hours with more than 2,000 hours in the PC-12, and was well known to the passengers according to the aircraft's owner, "Bud" Feldkamp. The plane departed in the morning from Redlands Municipal Airport
in Redlands
, California
, picked up two families at Nut Tree Airport
in Vacaville
and another family at Oroville Municipal Airport
(KOVE) in Oroville
.
The flight departed Oroville at 12:10 PDT as a 14 CFR
Part 91
(personal flight) on an instrument flight rules
flight plan
and clearance for Bozeman
, Montana
's Gallatin Field
, with Butte
as the alternate. While cruising at FL250 (approximately 25,000 feet AMSL), the pilot requested and was subsequently cleared to divert to Butte, about 85 miles (135 km) northwest of Bozeman. The pilot did not provide a reason for the diversion.
The weather conditions in the area at the time of the crash were scattered clouds at 4,400 feet, with an overcast layer at 8,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, wind 10 knots from the northwest, and temperature 7 degrees C with a dew point of -3 C.
. The aircraft was destroyed, and all persons on board — seven adults and seven children under the age of 10 — died on impact with the ground. There were no casualties on the ground.
Onlookers who witnessed the plane nosedive into the cemetery rushed to help any injured, but "there was nothing to help". Photographs show towering orange flames from a burning coniferous tree, with smoke billowing up against a foreground of tombstones. Luggage and plane parts were strewn across the scene.
announced on March 22 that they would send a Go Team of "approximately seven investigators" to the crash, led by chief investigator Dennis Hogenson.
Initial investigation revealed that just prior to the crash, the aircraft's flaps were up while its landing gear was down.
On May 6, 2009, Lee LaBreche, the coroner for Butte
-Silver Bow County, Montana
released an autopsy report on the pilot, stating that the pilot died of blunt force injuries. According to the report, there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his body, and while he did appear to have "some heart disease," not enough heart tissue was available for examination and thus "the presence of a pathologic condition of the heart causing this accident cannot be excluded."
Full investigation completed in July 2011 - see external links below.
Irving M. "Bud" Feldkamp III, a dentist and one of seven owners of the plane, lost two daughters in the crash (Amy and Vanessa). They were also listed as "shareholders of the plane's registered owner, Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Ore." He is the owner of Hospitality Dental Associates and CEO of Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino
, California.
The three families were:
All the adults had attended Pacific Union College
and graduated from Loma Linda University
, all educational institutions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
, of which they were members.
Brief final report - http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20090322X90442&key=1
Pilatus
Pilatus may refer to:* Pilatus , a mountain in Switzerland* Pilatus , an X-ray area detector developed at the Swiss Light Source* Pilatus , a 1917 play by Kaj Munk manufacturer* Pilatus Aircraft, a Swiss aircraft manufacturer...
PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
crash occurred near Butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
at approximately 14:32 local time (20:32 GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
) on March 22, 2009. All 14 people on board the single engine turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
aircraft died when it crashed into a cemetery while on approach to Butte's Bert Mooney Airport
Bert Mooney Airport
Bert Mooney Airport , is a public airport located three miles southeast of the central business district of Butte, a city in Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the Bert Mooney Airport Authority....
. The passengers — three families of friends with their children, all under 10 — were flying to a ski vacation near Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
, but diverted to Butte while en route, for unknown reasons.
Aircraft
The accident aircraft was a SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-made Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
/45, FAA registration number N128CM, a single-engine turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
which is certified for a maximum of nine passengers, or eleven people including the pilot and copilot. The aircraft was Pilatus construction number 403, built in 2001 and certified in September 2002. The registered owner was Eagle Cap Leasing, Inc. of Enterprise, Oregon
Enterprise, Oregon
Enterprise is a city in and the county seat of Wallowa County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,895 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 1,940 in 2007.- History :...
, owned by the father of two of the passengers.
Flight
The pilot, Ellison "Bud" Summerfield, 65, of HighlandHighland, California
Highland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population in 2010 was 53,104, up from 44,605 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, was a former US Air Force pilot, who had reportedly logged more than 8,500 civilian flight hours with more than 2,000 hours in the PC-12, and was well known to the passengers according to the aircraft's owner, "Bud" Feldkamp. The plane departed in the morning from Redlands Municipal Airport
Redlands Municipal Airport
Redlands Municipal Airport is a public airport located two miles northeast of Downtown Redlands, serving San Bernardino County, California, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has one runway....
in Redlands
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, picked up two families at Nut Tree Airport
Nut Tree Airport
Nut Tree Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Vacaville, in Solano County, California, United States.The airport is near the junction of Interstates 80 and 505...
in Vacaville
Vacaville, California
Vacaville, California is a city located in the northeastern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area in Solano County. The city is nearly half way between Sacramento and San Francisco on I-80. It sits approximately from Sacramento, and from San Francisco...
and another family at Oroville Municipal Airport
Oroville Municipal Airport
Oroville Municipal Airport is a public airport located 3 miles southwest of the city of Oroville in Butte County, California, USA.- Facilities :Oroville Municipal Airport covers and has two runways:...
(KOVE) in Oroville
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
.
The flight departed Oroville at 12:10 PDT as a 14 CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
Part 91
Part 91 operator
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in the CFR Title 14 part 91 defines a Part 91 Operator. These are the regulations that define the operation of small non-commercial aircraft within the US, however, many other countries defer to these rules. These rules set conditions, such as weather,...
(personal flight) on an instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules
Instrument flight rules are one of two sets of regulations governing all aspects of civil aviation aircraft operations; the other are visual flight rules ....
flight plan
Flight plan
Flight plans are documents filed by pilots or a Flight Dispatcher with the local Civil Aviation Authority prior to departure...
and clearance for Bozeman
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
's Gallatin Field
Gallatin Field Airport
Gallatin Field Airport , also known as Gallatin Field, is a public-use airport located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Bozeman, a city in Gallatin County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the Gallatin Airport Authority...
, with Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
as the alternate. While cruising at FL250 (approximately 25,000 feet AMSL), the pilot requested and was subsequently cleared to divert to Butte, about 85 miles (135 km) northwest of Bozeman. The pilot did not provide a reason for the diversion.
The weather conditions in the area at the time of the crash were scattered clouds at 4,400 feet, with an overcast layer at 8,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, wind 10 knots from the northwest, and temperature 7 degrees C with a dew point of -3 C.
Crash
According to witnesses, the plane crashed into Holy Cross Cemetery 500 ft (150 m) from Bert Mooney AirportBert Mooney Airport
Bert Mooney Airport , is a public airport located three miles southeast of the central business district of Butte, a city in Silver Bow County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the Bert Mooney Airport Authority....
. The aircraft was destroyed, and all persons on board — seven adults and seven children under the age of 10 — died on impact with the ground. There were no casualties on the ground.
Onlookers who witnessed the plane nosedive into the cemetery rushed to help any injured, but "there was nothing to help". Photographs show towering orange flames from a burning coniferous tree, with smoke billowing up against a foreground of tombstones. Luggage and plane parts were strewn across the scene.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
announced on March 22 that they would send a Go Team of "approximately seven investigators" to the crash, led by chief investigator Dennis Hogenson.
Initial investigation revealed that just prior to the crash, the aircraft's flaps were up while its landing gear was down.
On May 6, 2009, Lee LaBreche, the coroner for Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
-Silver Bow County, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
released an autopsy report on the pilot, stating that the pilot died of blunt force injuries. According to the report, there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol in his body, and while he did appear to have "some heart disease," not enough heart tissue was available for examination and thus "the presence of a pathologic condition of the heart causing this accident cannot be excluded."
Full investigation completed in July 2011 - see external links below.
Victims
All fourteen passengers were killed on impact. Besides the pilot, Ellison "Bud" Summerfield, there were three families on board: six adults with their seven children. All the children were under ten years of age.Irving M. "Bud" Feldkamp III, a dentist and one of seven owners of the plane, lost two daughters in the crash (Amy and Vanessa). They were also listed as "shareholders of the plane's registered owner, Eagle Cap Leasing of Enterprise, Ore." He is the owner of Hospitality Dental Associates and CEO of Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, California.
The three families were:
- Erin Jacobson, an ophthalmologist; his wife, Amy Feldkamp Jacobson, a dental hygienist; and their three children, Taylor, Ava and Jude. They resided in St. HelenaSt. Helena, CaliforniaSt. Helena is a city in Napa County, California, United States. It is part of the northern San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 5,814 at the 2010 census....
, California.
- Michael L. Pullen, a dentist; his wife, Vanessa Feldkamp Pullen, a pediatrician and Amy's sister; and their two children, Sydney and Christopher. They resided in GaltGalt, CaliforniaGalt is a city in Sacramento County, California, USA. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, California.
- Brent D. Ching, a dentist; his wife, Kristen Mautz Ching, a nurse, who was four months pregnant; and their two children, Hailey and Caleb. They resided in DurhamDurham, CaliforniaDurham is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 5,518 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, California.
All the adults had attended Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Angwin, California, United States. It is the only four-year college in Napa County, California....
and graduated from Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
, all educational institutions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, of which they were members.
Prior PC-12 accidents
The PC-12 had, by the end of 2007, only three previous fatal accidents in the US/Canada combined fleet of 556 aircraft after an estimated total of 1.39 million flight hours. One was a training error, while another was engaged in a round-the-world attempt. The only one in normal service occurred on March 26, 2005 in Pennsylvania, where six people on board perished when the plane crashed after experiencing a loss of control during the landing approach. In 2008, there was an additional fatal crash.External links
Full final report - http://www.ntsb.gov/doclib/reports/2011/AAR1105.pdfBrief final report - http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20090322X90442&key=1