India, Feb. 28 -- The VSR Aviation chartered jet carrying Maharashtra's deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar crashed as the crew attempted to land in visibility of 3,000 metres, against a legal minimum of 5,000 metres for approaches at such airports, the preliminary investigation report has suggested.

All five people aboard the Learjet 45XR - including two pilots, a cabin attendant and two passengers - were killed when the aircraft came down to the left of Runway 11 at Baramati airport, struck trees and was engulfed in fire.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's preliminary report found that visibility at the time of landing was 3,000 metres and this was conveyed to the pilots. Visual Flight Rules (VFR) require a minimum of 5,000 met...