This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N667LF
- History of Flight:
On December 16, 2025, at about 1210 local time, a Pilatus PC-12/47E NG, N667LF, registered to and being operated by Life Flight Network LLC, sustained unknown structural damage following a severe turbulence encounter near Renton, Washington. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight. The flight originated from Felts Field Airport (SFF/KSFF), Spokane, Washington, and was destined to Renton Municipal Airport (RNT/KRNT), Renton, Washington.
According to preliminary ADS-B data, the turbulence encounter event most likely occurred as the aircraft was descending through 7,000 ft. The autopilot was turned off and there were some serious vertical speed fluctuations noted (see figure 1). The airplane continued to descend and the autopilot was turned, and it was turned off a few seconds later and turned again. The flight continued uneventufly to renton.
The FAA reported that: "Aircraft encountered severe turbulence causing structural damage."
Figure 1: ADS-B data ran through Flysto, note autpilot turn off event and vertical speed fluctuations.
- Weather Information:
(1) METARs:
METAR KSMP 161944Z AUTO 00000KT 1 1/4SM BR BKN026 BKN033 OVC044 03/03 A2986 RMK AO2 VIS 3/4V2 1/2 UPB04E13RAB13E14B18E27 P0001 T00280028
METAR KSMP 161956Z AUTO 00000KT 1 1/2SM -RA BR FEW013 BKN022 OVC035 03/03 A2986 RMK AO2 UPB04E13B49E53RAB13E14B18E27B53 SLP757 P0001 T00280028
METAR KSMP 161958Z AUTO 00000KT 3SM -RA BR FEW013 BKN022 OVC035 03/03 A2986 RMK AO2 P0000 T00280028
METAR KSMP 162035Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM FEW009 BKN015 OVC029 04/04 A2983 RMK AO2 RAE23 P0000 T00390039
METAR KSMP 162056Z AUTO VRB04KT 10SM FEW013 BKN018 OVC030 04/04 A2981 RMK AO2 RAE23 SLP743 P0000 60004 T00390039 58024
(2) Area Forecast Discussion:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Seattle WA 906 AM PST Tue Dec 16 2025 .SYNOPSIS... A period of very active weather will dominate the week ahead as a series of frontal systems produce cascading impacts across Western Washington. In addition to ongoing river flood concerns, another period of windy conditions is expected tonight into early Wednesday. Snow levels will tumble to the passes by early Wednesday with heavy snowfall expected in the mountains. Cool, unsettled conditions will remain in place through the remainder of the week with substantial additional snowfall in the mountains. && .SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... After a brief lull between systems early today, a secondary stronger system arrives tonight. Wind potential with it remains a concern. When combined with saturated soils already in place, the threat of fallen trees increases. Models show a sharp surface mesolow forming to the lee of the Olympics by 09Z Wednesday. This creates a very strong pressure gradient Seattle southward. Isallobaric analysis shows impressively strong pressure rises behind it...as much as 7 to 10 millibars in just three hours early Wednesday morning. So, it`s not just wind speeds alone, but the rapid manner in which they could arrive. A very strong westerly surge will occur through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. In the period between around 11 PM tonight and 6 AM Wednesday, gusts of 40 to 50 mph are expected for portions of the the interior lowlands with 50 to 60 mph along the coast, strait, and around Hood Canal. Snow levels will tumble to the passes by early Wednesday with significant snowfall expected. Totals could approach 10+ inches at Snoqualmie Pass by Wednesday afternoon, 18 to 24 inches at Stevens, and 2 to 3 feet at Mount Baker/Rainier. The snowfall will be accompanied by strong winds as well. A combination of post-frontal convergence and upslope flow will keep the snow piling up in the Cascades into Wednesday night. Quick on the heels of that system, another arrives on Thursday for additional lowland rain, breezy winds, and impactful mountain snowfall. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... There is no significant change in thinking for the extended portion of the forecast. A parade of systems will arrive nearly daily with additional lowland rain and mountain snow. Snow levels will remain near or below the passes through the period with significant additional accumulations. 27 && .AVIATION... Strong west to southwest flow aloft will turn westerly late tonight as a vigorous frontal system moves onshore into Western Washington. Ceilings will lower to MVFR later this morning in increasing rain with a few pockets of IFR. These conditions will persist into tonight. Surface winds will increase by early afternoon and become strong overnight as the system moves onshore. After 03Z tonight, southwest surface winds gusting as high as 35 to 45 knots can be expected along the coast and across interior terminals around Puget Sound. These winds will persist into early Wednesday morning before gradually diminishing. KSEA...A mix of IFR and MVFR ceilings in scattered showers are expected to solidify into mostly low MVFR later this morning as stratiform rain associated with the next frontal system spreads into the area. MVFR ceilings and visibilities in rain will continue into tonight. Instances of visibilities below 3 miles/IFR are possible in heavier periods of rain. There is also a non-zero chance of lightning as the front moves through the terminal between 09-12Z, however, confidence to add in TAF is too low at this time. Southerly surface winds of 8 to 12 knots this morning will increase around 19Z- 20Z and become quite gusty from the southwest tonight. Gusts of 30 to 40 knots, potentially higher, are expected between 06Z tonight and 12Z Wednesday morning. 27/Gerhardt && .MARINE... A strong frontal system will move into Western Washington late tonight into early Wednesday morning. Gale force winds developing ahead of the front over the coastal waters. Sharp pressure rises behind the front will produce a round of strong winds over all the waters. Gale warnings are in effect for all the waters tonight with storm warnings up for the Central and Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca for a few hour window in the early morning hours Wednesday. Winds easing later Wednesday morning into Wednesday afternoon with small craft advisory winds continuing over the coastal waters and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A low pressure system arrives on Thursday and keep small craft advisory winds going over the coastal waters. Seas in the 10 to 14 foot range today building to 18 to 24 feet tonight into Wednesday. Seas subsiding back down to 10 to 14 feet Wednesday night into Thursday. Seas remain just above 10 feet Thursday night falling back into single digits Friday. Felton/Gerhardt && .HYDROLOGY... Another frontal system will bring one to three inches of precipitation to the mountains through Wednesday with an inch or less in the lowlands. Cooler air moving into the area later tonight adds some uncertainty to the forecast river levels with snow levels dropping to 2000 to 2500 feet Wednesday morning. The front tonight has more moisture than the system Monday but the cooler air will keep some of the moisture in the mountains in the form of snow. This combination makes for tricky river forecasting. Major flooding is possible on the Skagit river beginning Wednesday morning in the upper reaches with the flood crest reaching Mount Vernon Thursday morning. Several other rivers are forecast to reach minor flood but there is a farir amount of uncertainty with the crests, especially due to how quickly and and how low the snow level gets. A flood watch is in effect through Thursday afternoon across the lowlands. The landslide threat remains very elevated will continue to be high through at least tomorrow. Felton && .SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WA...Wind Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 6 AM PST Wednesday for City of Seattle-Eastern Kitsap County-Eastside- Foothills and Valleys of Central King County-Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties- Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades- Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-San Juan County- Shoreline / Lynnwood / South Everett Area. Flood Watch through Thursday afternoon for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties-Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Cascades of Southern King County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties-City of Seattle-Downtown Everett / Marysville Area-Eastside-Foothills and Valleys of Central King County-Foothills and Valleys of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Foothills and Valleys of Thurston and Lewis Counties-Foothills and Valleys of the North Cascades-Foothills of the Western and Southern Olympic Peninsula-Grays Harbor County Coast- Lower Chehalis River Valley-Lowlands of Lewis and Southern Thurston Counties-Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Lowlands of Western Whatcom County-Middle Chehalis River Valley-Olympia and Southern Puget Sound-Olympics-Shoreline / Lynnwood / South Everett Area-Willapa and Black Hills. Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PST Wednesday for Cascades of Pierce and Lewis Counties- Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King Counties-Cascades of Southern King County-Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit Counties-Olympics. High Wind Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 6 AM PST Wednesday for Downtown Everett / Marysville Area-Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca-Foothills of the Western and Southern Olympic Peninsula-Grays Harbor County Coast- Island County-Lake Crescent Area Including US 101-Lower Chehalis River Valley-Lowlands of Pierce and Southern King Counties-Lowlands of Western Skagit and Northwestern Snohomish Counties-Middle Chehalis River Valley-Northern Hood Canal-Northern Washington Coast-Olympia and Southern Puget Sound-Port Townsend Area-Southern Hood Canal- Western Strait of Juan de Fuca. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM PST Wednesday for Grays Harbor Bar. Small Craft Advisory until noon PST today for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm- Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca. Gale Warning from noon today to noon PST Wednesday for Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island 10 To 60 Nm- Coastal Waters From Cape Flattery To James Island Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From James Island To Point Grenville Out 10 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater 10 To 60 Nm-Coastal Waters From Point Grenville To Cape Shoalwater Out 10 Nm-West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca. Gale Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to midnight PST tonight for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca. Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 6 AM PST Wednesday for Central U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-East Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca. Gale Warning from 6 PM this evening to 6 AM PST Wednesday for Admiralty Inlet-Northern Inland Waters Including The San Juan Islands-Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
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