Pilatus PC-12/45, Raphine, Va., July 5, 2009–The turboprop single crashed into a pasture during an IFR flight from Teterboro Airport to Tampa’s Executive Airport. At approximately 10 a.m. at FL308 the pilot radioed ATC a partially intelligible message that included the words “lost a panel.” The controller received no response to his request for clarification. Instead, the pilot requested a heading. The last communication the controller received was that the pilot was descending; then communication was lost.
According to preliminary radar data, the airplane then began a right descending turn, losing more than 6,500 feet of altitude in 14 seconds. A witness on the ground reported hearing a sound associated with a turbine engine in distress, followed by the sound believed to be an airplane climbing then descending. The sound stopped and was replaced by a deep thud. The private pilot and three passengers were killed.