Pilot of crashed plane inexperienced, say experts
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
15.11.2011 16:10
Poland's State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL) has declared that the pilot of the light aircraft that crashed on Sunday near Katowice, southern Poland, did not have adequate experience.
photo - PAP/Andrzej Grygiel
Two couples from the Silesia and Malopolska regions perished in the accident, when a four-man Cirrus plane plunged to the ground.
“This is an airplane that requires precision flying – it does not allow for mistakes,” Ryszard Rutkowski from PKBWL told the Gazeta Wyborcza daily.
Rutkowski said that the pilot, who was “not entitled” to make such a flight, “incorrectly assessed the weather conditions and should have attempted to land earlier.”
Preliminary investigation at the site of the accident, near the Silesian village of Zyglin, has provided some key leads.
Firstly, it appears that the engine had already stopped working prior to the crash.
Secondly, there was no fuel leakage at the site, which may indicate that there was a critical lack of fuel.
Finally, it appears that the parachute system had not been activated.
State prosecutors are currently taking part in the investigation, alongside PKBWL. (nh/pg)