Crash of the Polish Air Force One, 2014 Status Report
By Maria Szonert Binienda, J.D.
SCNDMSB2014SR

II. Air Navigation

A. “On course” “On glide path”

PHOTO [3] (right) The actual position of the Polish Air Force One versus the correct approach path at 6 km before the airdrome. Source: K. Matyszczak

According to the Russian reading of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (“CVR”), the Air Traffic Controller made the following statements in the final stage of the Polish Air Force One fatal flight:²²

10:39:31 – “8, on course, on glide path”
10:39:52 – “on course, on glide path, distance 6”
10:40:14 – “4, on course, on glide path”
10:40:39 – “2, on course, on glide path”
10:40:56 – “control altitude, horizon”
10:41:03 – “go around” 10:41:05 – END of RECORDING

Contrary to the transcript above, the Polish Air Force One in his final approach to the Severny Airport in Smolensk was not on course and was not on a glide path at the times specified in the above transcript.

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Footnotes:

²² “Transkrypcja Rozmów Załogi Tu-154M – Zapis z Rejestratora Dźwięku MARS-BM,” Russian CVR transcript handed over to the Polish side on May 10, 2010.