FAA: 2 Died in Pilatus PC-12 Aircraft that Crashed South of San Angelo

SAN ANGELO, TX — This morning, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that two people died in the crash of the Pilatus PC-12 that was turning onto final approach at San Angelo’s Mathis Field on Dec. 14. The FAA recorded the official time of the crash at 12:54 p.m.

The Texas Department of Public Safety identified the two victims as 65-year old Gregg C. Seaman and 48-year old Courtney Koranda Seaman, both from San Diego, CA. 

The mishap aircraft departed from Jacksonville Executive at Craig Field in Florida and flew non-stop to San Angelo, about 857 miles, taking off just before 10 a.m. EST, 9 a.m. CST, according to ADSB data. That data showed the PC-12 maneuvering near the final approach course of the RNAV (GPS) Rwy 36 at Mathis Field moments before the crash. ADSB tracked the plane at 259 knots ground speed and 2,800 feet MSL, or 900 feet above the ground, descending at 5,056 ft/min on the final ping to the flight tracking system. If this ADSB data is a correct readings, the rate of descent suggests and accelerated stall or spin. The forward ground speed does not. The plane may have been diving into the ground for an unknown reason.

Our reporter on the scene could see smoke rising from the crash scene, about a mile away from the ranch gate, but did not see flames. "There was not a big fire or anything," he told us.

The aircraft was operating under Part 91 of FAA regulations, meaning it was a privately-owned plane for personal or personal business travel and not for hire.

Until the NTSB completes its preliminary investigation that should be published within weeks, we can only speculate about what caused the crash. The FAA officially stated that the aircraft “crashed under unknown circumstances” today.