Smolensk air disaster

The 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 April 2010 when a Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed in the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board. These included the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria; the former President of Poland in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, 18 members of the Polish parliament, and relatives of victims of the Katyn massacre.

Smolensk air disaster
Polish Air Force Flight 101

Wreckage from the Tu-154 at the crash site
Accident
Date	10 April 2010 (2010-04-10)
Summary	Controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error
Site	near Smolensk North Airport Smolensk, Russia 54°49′26″N 32°03′05″E
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Tupolev Tu-154M
Operator	36 SPLT, Polish Air Force
ICAO flight No.	PLF101
Call sign	POLISH AIRFORCE 101
Registration	101
Flight origin	Frédéric Chopin Airport Warsaw, Poland
Destination	Smolensk North Airport Smolensk, Russia
Occupants	96
Passengers	89
Crew	7
Fatalities	96
Survivors	0

Accident

They were en route from Warsaw to attend an event marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre. The site is about 19 kilometres (12 mi) west of Smolensk. The pilots attempted to land at Smolensk North Airport, a former military airbase, in thick fog that reduced visibility to about 500 metres (1,600 ft). The aircraft was too low as it approached the runway as a result of confusing instructions from the traffic controler. Striking trees in the fog, it rolled upside down, struck the ground, broke apart, and eventually came to rest 200 metres (660 ft) short of the runway in a wooded area.

Other websites

• "Findings of the Interstate Aviation Committee Safety Investigation of the Accident involving Tu-154M aircraft tail number 101 of the Republic of Poland on April 2010 near Smolensk "Severny" aerodrome." ( Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine) Interstate Aviation Committee - Comprehensive link with reports and updates
• "Об окончательных результатах работы Технической комиссии Межгосударственного авиационного комитета по расследованию катастрофы самолета Ту-154М бортовой номер 101 Республики Польша, произошедшей 10 апреля 2010 г. в районе аэродрома Смоленск "Северный"." ( Archived 2015-08-10 at the Wayback Machine) Interstate Aviation Committee (in Russian) - Comprehensive link with reports and updates
• Final report in English, Polish, and Russian Archived 2012-11-23 at the Wayback Machine - Committee for Investigation of National Aviation Accidents
• Video reconstruction of flight (simulation, 36 min., rus) direct link (mp4)