King Air autolands in Colorado

Fire officials reported nobody received medical treatment on scene or was transported to a hospital following the landing. Garmin issued a brief statement about the event, confirming the Autoland activation and subsequent landing at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport.  

Charter company Buffalo River Aviation issued a statement to CBS Colorado on December 22, explaining that the two pilots aboard the King Air reported a loss of pressurization after departure from Aspen, Colorado, donned oxygen masks, and opted to allow the Garmin system to fly the aircraft to a safe landing at an airport selected by the system. It was not clear why the King Air crew opted not to make any radio calls of their own during the descent and landing at the Colorado airport.

A video clip released December 22 by first responders shows the King Air stationary on the runway with its propellers turning slowly as emergency vehicles approached. Two people with backpacks, one holding a plastic bag, exited the aircraft, its propellers still turning, and had a conversation with the first firefighter to approach the aircraft.

Data compiled by Global ADS-B Exchange shows the King Air, registered to Gunner Aviation LLC of Arkansas, according to FAA records, departed Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field in Aspen, Colorado, at 1:43 p.m. and climbed to 23,000 feet before turning northeast and descending to 18,000 feet.

"Climbing through 23,000ft MSL, the aircraft experienced a rapid, uncommanded loss of pressurization. As per standard procedures, the two pilots immediately put on their oxygen masks," the charter company CEO Chris Townsley said in a statement reported by CBS Colorado. "In this case, the crew consciously elected to preserve and use all available tools and minimize additional variables in an unpredictable, emergent situation, prioritizing life and a safe outcome over all other factors, as they are trained to do."

The first mention of an in-flight emergency on the Rocky Mountain tower frequency was recorded by LiveATC.net at 2:05 p.m. Mountain time, with the tower advising another aircraft to "remain outside of the Class Delta. We've got an emergency, we're gonna have to sterilize the airspace."

Garmin's Autoland, the first certified system designed to land an aircraft without human input in cases of emergency, earned the 2020 Robert J. Collier Trophy. Part of the Autonomi suite of safety technologies, Autoland is designed to take full control if activated, and to do so automatically if the pilot becomes unresponsive, such as in cases of hypoxia, or if the cabin altitude exceeds a safe limit.

As controllers advised other traffic in the area about the inbound emergency at 2:05 p.m. Mountain time, the King Air was level at 18,000 feet, over high terrain approaching Golden Gate Canyon State Park, about 25 nautical miles from the airport. Less than a minute later, the controller told another aircraft, "We've got a nordo King Air that's also experiencing an emergency." About five minutes later, a computer-generated voice announced the King Air's call sign on the tower frequency and reported its position south of the airport, stated, "pilot incapacitation," and the system's intention to conduct an "emergency Autoland" on Runway 30R in 19 minutes.

The system, as designed, made additional calls as it flew the aircraft in a descending circle a few miles from the runway. No transmissions from the aircraft in any other voice were recorded on the tower frequency. Controllers advised various aircraft and ground units of the incoming emergency, and that rescue vehicles were maneuvering into position. About a minute before landing, the tower broadcast to the King Air, "If you can hear me, any runway, cleared to land, wind three-five-zero at six, altimeter three-zero-zero-zero."

Controllers told other aircraft prior to the landing that they expected the King Air to stop on the runway after landing and shut down, which it apparently did, as designed. Aircraft on the frequency after the King Air's landing were advised the airport was closed and was expected to remain so for at least 30 to 60 minutes while emergency crews responded.

North Metro Fire Rescue District Public Information Officer Katie Converse said in a December 22 phone call that "no one was treated on site, no one was transported" to a local hospital following the incident. According to FlightAware, the aircraft flew to Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, December 21. "The aircraft returned home the following day without incident," Townsley told CBS Colorado.

AOPA flew an Autoland-equipped King Air with Garmin in 2023, capturing on video an experience very similar to what apparently transpired December 20 over Colorado.