Weather likely played a significant role in the plane crash that killedPoland's president Lech Kaczynski Saturday morning. Accuweather.commeteorologists studied the weather at the time of the crash in Smolensk,Russia, and indications show that dense fog was present before the plane wentdown.According to observations, fog became very dense an hour before the crash. Thevisibility at ground level was only about 200 yards at the time of the crash.
However, skies were clear above that for the plane's descent.
Winds were light and did not appear to have been a factor in the crash.
According to the news agency Interfax, the Smolensk Airport was closed due tothe thick fog and poor visibility before the crash. The pilot was instructed toland at either Minsk to the west or Moscow to the east. The plane crashed afterthe pilot's fourth attempt to land at the closed airport.
Ninety-seven people on the Polish military plane were confirmed killed byRussian officials. In addition to the president, some of Poland's highestmilitary and civilian leaders died. The crash occurred(3 a.m. EDT) in western Russia. The president's wife was also killed.
According to The Associated Press, the Tupolev-154, a Soviet-era plane,appeared to hit trees and break apart before approaching the runway.
By AccuWeather.com Meteorologists Katie Storbeck and Dave Samuhel
