Sequence of Events
The four-engine aircraft was operating LOT Polish Airlines Flight LO007 from Montreal to Warsaw with an intermediate stop at New York-JFK. During the final approach to Warsaw-Okecie Airport runway 15, the crew reported problems with the landing gear, indicating that the gear appeared to be down but not locked.
At an altitude of approximately 250 meters, the captain received clearance to initiate a go-around and increased engine power. Immediately thereafter, engine number 2 exploded, causing damage to engine number 1. Debris from the explosion severed the control cables for the rudder and elevator, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable.
The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent with a nose-down attitude of about 20 degrees. Its speed increased to 380 km/h before it struck an embankment near the Okecie Fort, approximately 900 meters short of runway 15 threshold. The impact disintegrated the aircraft, and all 87 occupants were killed.
Occupants and Notable Passengers
Among the passengers were 14 members of the United States boxing team and 10 coaches, as well as Polish singer Anna Jantar.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an explosion of engine number 2, caused by the disintegration of a compressor stage due to fatigue cracks.