Mountain Air Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burnsville, North Carolina 28714
Thursday, May 22, 2008 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing the Pilatus PC-12 on runway 32, a 2,900-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway, at an airport located in a mountainous area. After touchdown, the right wing lifted up, and the airplane became airborne again. The pilot flew back toward the center of the runway and touched down again; however, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the left. The airplane's left wing was substantially damaged when it struck an embankment off the left side of the runway. The airplane subsequently came to rest on the embankment, approximately 150 feet prior to the end of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. Winds reported at an airport located about 39 miles northeast of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were from 300 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 26 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Burnsville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28714
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355207N
Event Location Longitude 0822030W
Event Location Airport Mountain Air
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2NC0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4432
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 922 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID TNB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3120
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 39
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 26
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.89
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23820
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date May 22 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 23 2009 9:04AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charlotte FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N522DJ
NTSB Number NYC08CA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Pilatus
Aircraft Model PC-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 539
Certified Max Gross Weight 9920
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 8
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2002
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Epps Aviation / Pilatus Center South
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Atlanta
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30341
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jeffrey S, Wilson
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Miami
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33177
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PDK
Departure City Atlanta
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2NC0
Destination City Burnsville
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 23 2009 9:03AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 2900
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --