Pilatus PC12 - 45 accident near Crownpoint, New Mexico, May 13, 2015
On May 13, 2015 at about 3:20 am local time, a 2000 Pilatus PC12 - 45, registered N811VM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Crownpoint, New Mexico (Crownpoint airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2015 · about 3:20 am local time
- Place
- Crownpoint, New Mexico · Crownpoint · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC12 - 45 45, built 2000 · all PC12 - 45s on the register
- Registration
- N811VM · registry record · serial 316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after the airplane crossed the runway threshold, he reduced engine power to idle and the gear warning horn sounded. The pilot reported that he misinterpreted the gear warning horn for the ground proximity warning system and the airplane landed with the gear retracted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the spar carry-through structure and left spar attachment. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,439 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 226 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 4,301 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,703 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 17, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 9,965 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-67B (turboprop); 6,499 hours total
- Operator: Valley Med Flight, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: GUP Gallup NM at 3:04 am
- Destination: 0E8 Crownpoint NM
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 5,820 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from KGUP, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.