Eclipse Jet Circle-to-Land Gillespie Field LOC-D Approach

Circle-to-land approaches do have higher accident rates. Combine a circle-to-land with instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), night conditions, and a fast aircraft and your margin of error declines dramatically.
Saldy, aviation lost two pilots and two air nurses December 27, 2021 on a base-to-final turn near Gillespie Field (KSEE) near El Cajon, CA. A Learjet 35, operated by Aeromedevac, was on a repositioning flight and attempted to land at KSEE with IFR conditions near minimums.
Recently, the FAA updated the RNAV 17 approach to include higher circling minimums (1950' MSL & 3 statute mile Visibility) for Category C/D aircraft. While we don't know why this change happened, we can assume this accident partially contributed to the decision.
We'll be flying this approach again, in a CitationJet, when TFRs allow. We switched to the Localizer Delta (LOC-D) approach since that also has a circle-to-land approach (
The NTSB has a preliminary report of the accident and sites like Kathryn's Report have more information regarding the circumstances of this tragic crash.
Our condolences to the families for their sudden and tragic loss.
NTSB PRELIMINARY REPORT *
ca-times.brigh...
KATHRYN'S REPORT (N880Z) *
www.kathrynsrep...
KSEE INSTRUMENT APPROACH CHARTS *
RNAV 17 GPS: flightaware.co...
LOC-D: flightaware.co...
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