What happened
On 17 April 2023, at approximately 11:34 MST, a Pilatus PC-12/47E operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. departed Whitehorse/Erik Nielsen International Airport (CYXY) in the Yukon. The aircraft, registered as C-GMPX, was flying under instrument flight rules toward Yellowknife Airport in the Northwest Territories.
During the initial climb following takeoff from Runway 32L, the aircraft's stall warning system activated, producing an audible alert and engaging the stick shaker. In response to this warning, the pilot notified the tower controller of the decision to abort the departure and return to the airport for landing.
While attempting to visually maneuver for a landing on Runway 3lag, the aircraft struck the ground roughly 520 feet west-southwest of the displaced threshold. The aircraft was in a right-wing-low attitude at the moment of impact. After hitting the terrain, the left wing struck a pile of millings, causing the aircraft to roll onto its left side and slide about 130 feet before stopping on an airport service road. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was assisted out of the emergency exit by airport rescue and firefighting crews.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading from the activation of the stall warning to the impact with the terrain. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter signal was detected by the search and rescue satellite system. The wreckage was examined, and it was determined that the aircraft was destroyed, though no fire occurred after the impact.