Final Report: Crosswind blamed in landing accident

Bombardier Learjet 35A, Truckee, Calif., Dec. 28, 2005 – The NTSB blamed the pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind (20 to 30 knots) and failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while making a circling instrument approach and maneuvering in a steep turn close to the ground for the fatal crash of the Learjet 35.
The jet, owned and operated by RSB Investments of Washington, Pa. (dba Skyward Aviation), was making a steep base-to-final left turn when it crashed one-third of a mile from the approach end of Runway 28 at Truckee-Tahoe Airport. The ATP-rated pilot and the commercial copilot were killed.