There was a thick fog at Smolensk airport and the pilots had been told to try another airport in Minsk, but they still tried to land several times to Smolensk. The fourth attempt became fatal. It was kind of unusual behavior, since it is said that usually after two unsuccessful attempts the pilots head to alternative airfields.
I think that the pilot might have come under pressure from the staff to land or they would have missed the ceremony. I would think ILS would work,some say that it didn't have it which i find very,very hard to believe givin that its a presidential aircraft.Investigation will tell.
Was the weather fog all the way to the ground (no ceiling?) What was the visibility? What type of approach was available at the airport? How much fuel reserve? Time of day and forecast? Distance to alternate?
I am assuming that the presidential aircraft had adequate avionics. That is only half of the equation. What was the airfield like?
In theory, the pilot in command could (and obviously should) have overridden the President on decisions regarding flight safety. He may have been relieved upon landing, but all would still be alive. With the information available, it seems to be a case of forcing a landing below minimum visibility.
I have flown an aircraft down to minimums four times in 7 years (2000 flight hours.) Twice we landed. Twice we diverted. I never tried a second approach on the two diverts. We did a few turns in holding one time to talk it over, but we ended up diverting. All were memorable.
Regardless of the details, condolences to the surviving families and the people of Poland.
