These alert fellows first reported on many details that are being confirmed only now, particularly the rise and fall of the jet as it failed to climb after the initial touch down. This confirms that the pilot could see the ground as it is obvious that the plane, including its colors, was seen from the ground.

But the follow up witness is interesting – not only could he not look into the camera, he concocted a story that sounds as if he saw the crash but did not see it because of the fog….but then realized it was a crash when he went home and saw it on TV?!??!

Update: Yet another enhanced version of the video clearly showing unusual activity for a rescue sight.

Update: The Crash on Facebook. (The Pajama Media has jumped the shark).

Here is a revised video with translations.

We trust this photographer will watch his back in the coming months.

UPDATE: There is no reasonable explanation on the professional pilot forums here or here as to how this plane managed to crash given all the safety features .

The first contact with the ground was the clipping of a small sapling. Now, it appears that the plane continued to descend and the wheels actually touched the ground as evidenced by these marks in the grass. Note the sapling in the background.

Why did this jet fail to climb enough to avoid 30′ trees a qtr mile later? And why did it touch down in a field with 500 yards of visibility?

The Sich High Command has conducted a preliminary investigation and notes these photos of clipped trees starting a quarter mile before the crash. How is it possible that the plane could not climb above these small trees when they are designed to climb 30′ every second?

Here is the first tree that was clipped in the middle of an open field. This tree is only a few feet tall and could have caused no damage but for sure, the pilots knew at this point they had to climb.

Yet  for some reason they could not since they went on to clip more small trees and brush for a quarter mile.

Below is a picture that we developed based on the above link that shows a SCALED side view – detailing how a modern aircraft that was just upgraded by the Russians was not able to climb above small trees for a quarter mile before it flipped and crashed.  Also note the 400 meter visibility line at the top of the picture.  Given a descent rate of 300′ per mile, that means that they traveled for 4 miles or about two minutes while within sight of the ground they would eventually hit.

This was not pilot error.

PS:  Check out the rest of the photos here and the picture of what really happened becomes clear.

UPDATE: This appears to show people climbing about the wreckage while there are gunshots!

UPDATE: Confirmation of earlier reports that portable guidance equipment that assisted Putin’s landing was not made available to the Polish flight. Also, perhaps an issue with the lights?

UPDATE: Here is an animation that demonstrates the planes inability to climb enough to clear small trees and brush – before it finally hit the tree that cut its wing. It now appears that issues of fog and language problems are irrelevent. This plane was not able to climb at the required design rate of 30′ per second.

This image is reported to show the Polish President jet on fire – an engine that was just rebuilt by the Russians.

Russia’s rush to judgement in this incident coupled with a string of murders of opposition figures and the Natural Gas Cold War has the potential to make this incident into an intractable crisis.

Russia’s long lived thugocracy maybe doomed. The West  might be moved to do all that is necessary to end the Kremlin as we have known it.

Where is the dense fog? Notice at 45 seconds, a very clear view of a field hundreds of yards deep. This confirms reports of visibility of 1/4 mile. How could the pilot not have seen the ground to avoid the trees?  If this is an actual video of the crash moments after the fact,  then serious questions have to be asked.

FINALLY, WHY IS THERE SHOOTING DURING A “RESCUE” OPERATION?

UPDATE: This video has been pulled from Youtube. Hmmmm. Thankfully we have some transcripts and some images and let the record note that the apparent shooting accompanied yelling for the “whores” to “get out”.

UPDATE: The video is back on with new comments

UPDATE: This story is finally getting picked up here, here, and here.

PS – notice all the trolls at Free Republic and the unending ad hominems at those who hear gunshots and see no fog.

UPDATE: This video appears to be legitimate.
Here is a photo of Putin at the same exact spot.