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

V. Russian Report

B. Contradictions

Topography of Terrain

The Russian Report ignores the evidence from the CVR, which proves that the Polish crew knew the topography of the terrain in the vicinity of the Severny Airport very well. The IAC disregarded clear statements made by the Polish pilots regarding the lowering of the terrain before the airport beam clearly spelled out in the CVR transcript. According to the transcript, one minute before the crash and 5 km before the airport beam (that is 3 km from the lowering of the terrain), the Co-Pilot reminded the Pilot-in-Command (“PIC”) about the lowering of terrain.⁶⁶ In direct contradiction to this evidence, the Russians concluded that the Polish pilots lacked the knowledge of the terrain topography. Such conclusion also disregards the information that the PIC landed at the Severny Airport as co-pilot three days before the crash.

Other Contradictions

According to the Russian Report, the airport lighting system was working properly at the Severny airfield at the time of the crash. This conclusion stands in direct contradiction to the statements contained in the Russian Report which indicated that four out of eight rows of lights were turned off. Other contradictions, for example with respect to radar video recordings and with respect to FDR readings are discussed in the Air Navigation and Manipulations sections of this report.

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Footnotes:

⁶⁶ CVR Transcript, Polish Prosecution: Second Pilot: 6:30:46 (Najgorsze, ze tam – nie? jest dziura) „The worst is that there... is a hole.” http://bit.ly/1mCoo7N;