Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled domestic service operating in conditions of fog and low-ceilinged clouds. Approximately 25 minutes before its scheduled arrival, the aircraft experienced a failure of the left engine, followed shortly by the right engine. The crew attempted to restart the engines, but only managed a partial restart of the right engine before it failed again. The resulting loss of electrical power forced the crew to navigate a rapid descent without ground communication. The captain, Kazimierz Rożek, selected a field for an emergency landing but was unable to extend the landing gear. The aircraft slammed into the ground, bounced, and overflew several drainage ditches before coming to a halt. The evacuation was hampered by seats that had been ripped from their mounts, blocking the exit, and smoke filling the cabin. A 69-year-old woman was the sole fatality, unable to escape the wreckage before the fire intensified and the fuel tanks exploded.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded in June 1989 that the primary cause of the accident was pilot error. The crew failed to activate the aircraft's engine anti-icing system in a timely manner while flying through icing conditions. This led to the air intakes becoming clogged with ice, starving the engines of air and causing a dual flameout. Although the captain was initially praised for his airmanship during the forced landing, the official inquiry placed responsibility on the flight deck for the technical oversight that led to the power loss.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine Anti-Icing System
A system designed to prevent ice buildup on engine air intakes; investigators found it was not activated in time, leading to air starvation and engine failure.
Landing Gear
The crew was unable to extend the landing gear during the emergency descent, necessitating a belly landing.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a 22-year-old Antonov An-24B named 'Dunajec', purchased and put into service in April 1966.
- 02The aircraft's Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was 67302209.
- 03The flight carried two undercover Milicja Obywatelska officers acting as sky marshals.
- 04Notable survivors included the prominent Polish radio journalist Tomasz Beksiński.
- 05Initial news reports incorrectly stated that 16 people had died because several survivors hitched rides away from the site before authorities arrived.
- 06The accident led to the accelerated retirement of the Antonov An-24 from LOT's fleet, replaced by the ATR 72.
- 07One passenger, a British national, later sued the airline for negligence regarding maintenance and mechanical fitness.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Fleet Modernization
LOT Polish Airlines accelerated the withdrawal of the Soviet-built Antonov An-24 from service, replacing the type with the ATR 72.