Initially, the NTSB thought it might never determine the cause of the Pilatus crash at Butte, reporting to the press that it had no working theories. But this week, the NTSB concluded that the 2009 crash was caused by icing in the aircraft’s fuel system. According to the NTSB, the pilot failed to add an ice inhibitor
Pilatus Crash at Butte
Pilatus Crash at Butte: New NTSB Reports Show Pilot Under Stress
By Mike Danko on
Posted in Accident Investigations, General Aviation
The NTSB hasn’t yet released its probable cause finding concerning the Pilatus crash at Butte, Montana that killed the pilot and his 13 passengers. But it has just made public its “docket.” The docket sheds some light on what may have been happening in the cockpit in the minutes leading to the crash.
The flight was bound for Bozeman. Suddenly, the pilot diverted to Butte, which was only marginally closer. Though the pilot never explained the reason for the diversion, the docket suggests that theContinue Reading Pilatus Crash at Butte: New NTSB Reports Show Pilot Under Stress
Pilatus Crash at Butte Montana and Occam’s Razor
By Mike Danko on
Posted in Accident Investigations, General Aviation
The pilot’s original destination was Bozeman, Montana. But the pilot amended his flight plan and diverted to Butte. The pilot did not tell air traffic control why he was diverting. About 25 minutes later, as the aircraft approached for landing at Butte, it went out of control and crashed.
The NTSB is now investigating two things: (1) why the pilot diverted to Butte, especially when he was so close to Bozeman, and (2) why the pilot lost control and crashed so near the runway at Butte.
Some possible explanations for diverting include:Continue Reading Pilatus Crash at Butte Montana and Occam’s Razor