What happened
On February 24, 2023, a Pilatus PC12/45, registered as N273SM, was conducting an air medical mission from Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Salt Lake City. The flight was operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) for Guardian Flight LLC. After departing runway 16L at 21:00 PST, the aircraft climbed to an altitude of 18,300 feet. Shortly after 21:13 PST, the aircraft began a descending right turn. The aircraft's position was lost via ADS-B tracking at an altitude of 11,100 feet. The accident resulted in five fatalities, including the pilot and four passengers, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation into the occurrence was initiated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States. Preliminary data analysis focused on ADS-B tracking information, which documented the aircraft's climb and subsequent descent pattern prior to the loss of signal. The investigation aims to determine the circumstances surrounding the loss of control and the subsequent impact.