Why Rwy 11 … or Rwy 29?
The ATC audio identities the controller offering the pilot either Rwy 11 or overhead downwind 29… pilots choice. Metar 30 mins prior to arrival posted on this website would have favored Rwy 11. 30 mins after the accident, Metar would have preferred Rwy 29. KTRK is tight and unforgiving sad to say…3 1/2sm FU. 3sm needed to circle Cat C. One would have to be on the RNAV 20 at YAKYU (2.6 from MAP and 3.2 from the airport) no less than 7200ft and circle inside an obstacle at 6817ft on the extended Rwy 11 centerline - not easy even at Ref + 10 …if the wind had already shifted to the west over the surrounding terrain and not known (or requested) prior to the commencement of the circle… … a difficult challenge for even the best skills.. if the MAP is reached at only 0.8 from the field, circling for 11 would be unlikely. It appears that the flight track was west of the RNAV 20 approach (even west of I-80) suggesting a visual approach was occurring inside of LUMMO.