Pilatus PC-12 accident near Burnsville, North Carolina, May 22, 2008
On May 22, 2008 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Pilatus PC-12, registered N522DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Burnsville, North Carolina (Mountain Air airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2008 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Burnsville, North Carolina · Mountain Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-12 · all PC-12s on the register
- Registration
- N522DJ · no longer on the register · serial 539
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › (general) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,790 hours in all; 1,040 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,580 as pilot in command; 1,999 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,002 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 9,920 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Atlanta GA at 12:30 pm
- Destination: 2NC0 Burnsville NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 32, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 1:22 pm from TNB, 39 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.