Flight Details
During the approach, the aircraft was occupied by the owner, who held commercial pilot and certified flight instructor certificates, in the right front seat. The left seat was occupied by a friend of the owner, a private pilot with 246 total flight hours and no experience in high-performance turbine-powered aircraft. The private pilot was flying the aircraft under the direction of the owner.
Approach and Landing
While on a straight-in approach to the airport, air traffic control advised the flight three times of a variable right crosswind from 200 to 220 degrees at speeds of 8 to 14 knots, with higher gust components. The tower also communicated reports of light to moderate turbulence extending to the ground.
Accident Sequence
Both pilots reported that the aircraft had just touched down on runway 18 when a sudden crosswind gust lifted the right wing. The private pilot did not correct for the gust, and the aircraft owner was unable to overpower the other pilot's control inputs in time to counteract the wind. Subsequently, the left wing tip contacted the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel off the left side of the runway and into an airport fence.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the failure of both pilots to adequately anticipate and compensate for the variable crosswind condition, and the pilot in command's inadequate supervision of the flight. A contributing factor was the left seat pilot's limited total experience and lack of experience in high-performance aircraft types.