Accident
On an uneventful flight from Warsaw, the crew began the approach to Szczecin-Goleniów Airport at night under relatively good weather conditions. During the final approach, the airplane lost altitude, struck trees, and crashed in flames in a wooded area a few dozen meters short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed, and all 18 occupants were killed.
Crew and Passengers
The crew consisted of Major Edward Jedynak (pilot), Captain Kazimierz Marczak (pilot), Captain Daniel Sterna (navigator), Captain Janusz Główka, and Sergeant Tadeusz Błażejczyk. Passengers included Polish Minister of the Interior Wiesław Ociepka, Czechoslovak Minister of the Interior Radko Kaska, and other officials from both ministries. The delegation was en route to Szczecin to visit seaport installations.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by turbulences created at low altitude by the confrontation of two hot and cold air fronts, which resulted in a sudden loss of altitude that the pilots could not control. Additionally, an accumulation of frost on all surfaces contributed to the accident.