Trees near runway a factor in plane crash

We have said this all along–that it takes more than one catastrophic coincidence to take down a plane. And here we are supported now by the latest Polish investigation into the crash of the Polish Presidential plane.

In the case of that crash, the weather was bad. There was no possibility of safe landing. The investigation does not stop there. It goes on to cite a dozen mistakes, safety violations which led to the crash, including crew training, flight prep and rule violations.

Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Martin Lidzba

What: Polish Air Force Tupolev TU-154M
Where: Smolensk
When: Apr 10th 2010
Who: 88 passengers and 8 crew
Why: On approach to Smolensk North Airport in dense fog, the plane impacted a forest, coming to rest short of the runway. There are conflicting reports leading up to the decision to land at Smolensk (versus Minsk or Moscow), holding pattern, the number of approaches.

Everyone aboard the flight was lost, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, the national bank president, deputy foreign minister, army chaplain, head of the National Security Office, deputy parliament speaker, Olympic Committee head, civil rights commissioner and at least two presidential aides and three lawmakers.

Read More