What happened
On September 15, 2020, a Pilatus PC-12/47E, registration N1220A, was performing a takeoff roll from a private dirt airstrip near Lake Abert, Oregon. During the ground roll, the aircraft's left wing struck a truck that was parked alongside the runway. The pilot stated that the incident occurred at dusk and that the vehicle was not visible to the crew at the time of the impact. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers on board. The pilot noted that no mechanical issues or malfunctions occurred that would have prevented the normal operation of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing due to the collision with the parked truck. Weather conditions at the time were reported as VMC with a visibility of 7 statute miles and winds from 110 degrees at 6 knots.