May 11, 2009 (United Press International) -- The pilot of a plane that crashed in February lacked training on handling the emergency leading, people close to the investigation said.

All 49 people aboard the commuter plane were killed, as well as one person in a house, when the plane crashed short of the Buffalo, N.Y., airport en route from Newark, N.J. The Bombardier Q400 turboprop in the crash was operated by commuter carrier Colgan Air Inc., a division of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ:PNCL)

The company did not properly train Capt. Marvin Renslow to respond to a warning system designed to prevent the plane from going into a stall, people familiar with the investigation told The Wall Street Journal. As the plane slowed to a dangerous level and tripped the stall-prevention system, he did the opposite of the proper procedure, which led to the crash, the people said.

In addition, his co-pilot, Rebecca Shaw, complained before takeoff about being congested and said she probably should have called in sick, the Journal reported Monday.

The crash will be the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board hearing Tuesday.

Pinnacle has said its pilot training programs "meet or exceed regulatory requirements for all major airlines" and crews "are prepared to handle emergency situations they might face."

Carrier spokesman Joe Williams confirmed Sunday via e-mail that Renslow had five "unsatisfactory" training check rides in his career, including two at Colgan, but later passed a series of training tests and was "fully qualified in the Q400" aircraft.