Pilot Debrief

PILATUS PC-12/45 near Sleetmute, AK — 2025-03-08

Investigation ongoingANC25LA027
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Date
2025-03-08
Location
Sleetmute, AK, USA
Airport
SLQ
Aircraft
PILATUS PC-12/45
Registration
N304PT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

NTSB has not published a probable cause for this accident yet. Preliminary reports describe what happened; the cause is determined later, often 12–24 months after the event.

NTSB narrative

On March 7, 2025, about 1740 Alaska standard time, a Pilatus PC-12 airplane, N304PT, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Sleetmute, Alaska. The pilot and nine passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on demand charter flight. The airplane had departed the Scammon Bay Airport (PACM) at 1635 with nine passengers onboard on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan, en route to the Ted Stevens International Airport (PANC), Anchorage, Alaska. After departure the airplane climbed to 27,000 ft and about 1 hour and 23 minutes into the flight the pilot observed and heard the left side of the windscreen crack. The pilot immediately reduced power and began a gradual descent. About a minute later, as the airplane passed through 24,000 ft, the left side windscreen blew completely out of the airplane. See Figure 1 Figure 1. N304PT depicting missing left side windscreen (Photo provided by operator) The pilot diverted to the Sleetmute Airport (PASL) and landed without incident. An examination of the window frame is pending.

Preliminary NTSB coding

  • Part(s) separation from AC · Enroute
View NTSB preliminary report

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