| SAFETY PILOT LANDMARK ACCIDENT | AVIATE FIRST! A pilot's preoccupation with automation leads to disaster BY BRUCE LANDSBERG I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y B R E T T A F F R U N T I SUMMARY > A Pilatus PC-12's autopilot disengages in cruise climb near FL250 in IMC. > Pilot begins to troubleshoot and aircraft falls into spiral. > Pilot extends landing gear but airframe fails well outside operating envelope. 74 | AOPA PILOT June 2015 THE LATE COMEDIAN, George Carlin, offered solid advice to, "Always do what is next." We aviators usually hear it as "Aviate, navigate, communicate." The en route phase of flight is usually benign unless weather is involved. So it was natural to suspect that the pilot of a Pilatus PC-12 had encountered thunderstorms, icing-or both-that brought down this highly capable single-engine turboprop. However, it turned out to be something much different. Regardless of what type of aircraft you fly, the process of dealing with abnormal and emergency situations is much the same.