Crashes/Accidents/Mishaps – World Warbird News

OV-10 Bronco damaged in crash in Poland

World Warbird News — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 09:26:24 +0000

The OV-10 Bronco F-AZKM in September 2022. (Photo © Gee Bee for WWN)north

The French-based OV‑10 Bronco, registered F‑AZKM and flown by Chuck Berry, was involved in a crash-landing yesterday morning in Lezno, Poland. Fortunately, available sources indicate that the pilot is quite shaken by the accident but otherwise unhurt.

The accident’s cause is unknown at this time. Videos are circulating online, showing the Bronco crash-landing with its gear retracted. The footage shows the aircraft suffered a substantial impact with heavy damage to the airframe.

Built in 1971, OV‑10 Bronco F‑AZKM is a former German air force aircraft that was used as a target tow. After being retired from military service, it was exported to France in 1991 and was not operational for several years before being restored to full airworthiness by the Musée Européen de l’Aviation de Chasse in Montélimar.

Returning to the skies in 1997, it was one of the very few airworthy Broncos still flying in Europe, and a regular participant in French and European airshows.

Sources :

Footage on the crash-landing from Air Plus News on Facebook

France : Two killed in Fouga Magister crash near Paris

World Warbird News — Sat, 16 May 2026 09:19:49 +0000

The accident aircraft : Fouga Magister No. 480, registered F-AZQC (Photo Laurent Salard / Air Spot Photos (CC BY-SA 4.0))

Disaster struck on Monday, May 11, 2026, in the Seine-et-Marne region of France when a vintage Fouga CM.170 Magister crashed shortly after takeoff from Melun-Villaroche Airport. Both occupants of the aircraft lost their lives.

The accident occurred at approximately 4:15 p.m. in a wooded area located between Fontainebleau and Chailly-en-Bière. According to several witnesses at the scene, a loud explosion was heard before a fireball appeared in the sky, followed by the aircraft crashing into the forest.

The aircraft involved was Fouga CM.170 Magister F-AZQC, serial number 480, operated by the Fouga 480 association based at Melun-Villaroche.

Emergency services quickly converged on the crash site, which was difficult to access due to the dense vegetation. Upon arrival, rescue personnal were only able to confirm the deaths of both occupants, while a small vegetation fire caused by the impact was quickly brought under control on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest.

The 53-year-old pilot held a professional CPL license and reportedly had approximately 15,000 flying hours according to the first information released by the Melun public prosecutor’s office. The passenger, who came from northern France, was taking part in an experience flight aboard the aircraft.

The investigation has been entrusted to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses pour la sécurité de l’aviation civile (BEA), assisted by the Air Transport Gendarmerie. Investigators will now work to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. Possible causes under consideration include mechanical failure, pilot error, or a bird strike.

We extend our deepest condolences, prayers, and thoughts to the families and loved ones of the victims of this tragic accident.

Dan Fordice killed in the crash of P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II”

World Warbird News — Sat, 16 May 2026 08:48:33 +0000

The P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, registered N251CS (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The warbird community is mourning the loss of Dan Fordice, who was killed on May 12, 2026, in the crash of his North American P-51D Mustang “Charlotte’s Chariot II” near Tallulah-Vicksburg Regional Airport, Louisiana. Fordice was a respected warbird pilot and philantropist. The circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by the NTSB.

A veteran of both the U.S. Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard, Dan Fordice was well known within the historic aviation world for his passion for preserving the memory of the Second World War through flying aircraft and educational projects. He served on the General Staff of the Commemorative Air Force and founded the Southern Heritage Air Foundation, dedicated to preserving veterans’ stories and aviation history.

Fordice’s Mustang, “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, was a North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang carrying serial number 44-74977. After leaving USAF service, it was registered N5448V by Wayne Clevenger in 1957. It was owned by several owners until 2009, when it was purchased by Fordice and re-registered N251CS and repainted as “Charlotte’s Chariot II”, a Mustang flown during World War II by Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group.

Lieutenant Cary Salter, a pilot of the 354th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (FT-π), serial number 44-63747) nicknamed “Charlotte’s Chariot II”. (Photo USAAF via Cary Salter)

Friends and fellow pilots remembered Fordice as a passionate advocate for veterans and historic aviation. In a statement released after the accident, the Commemorative Air Force described him as “a passionate warbird pilot” who believed historic aircraft were “powerful tools for education, remembrance, and honoring freedom.”

The loss of both Dan Fordice and “Charlotte’s Chariot II” is a tragic reminder of the risks involved in operating vintage aircraft, even in the hands of experienced pilots. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Dan Fordice’s family, friends, and the many members of the warbird community who knew and flew alongside him.

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Pilot killed in Morane-Saulnier MS.733 crash in France

World Warbird News — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:59:56 +0000

The accident aircraft photographed in 2010 (Photo Jeff (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

A dramatic accident occurred on Friday, June 6 around 2:30 p.m. at Air Base 721 in Rochefort-Saint-Agnant, France. The Morane-Saulnier MS.733 F-AZXU crashed, resulting in the death of Alexandre Fritz, a former military pilot with 30 years of service.

He was performing a flight demonstration on the occasion of the graduation ceremony of the promotion class at the Non-Commissioned Officer Training School of the French Air and Space Force (EFSOAAE) in Rochefort.

A witness told Sud-Ouest that “the plane tried to turn around and suddenly stalled, from a height of 300 meters. Then there was a loud boom.” The exact causes of the accident are not yet known, and an investigation is underway.

We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Alexandre Fritz.

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UK : Pilot killed in Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire crash

World Warbird News — Sat, 25 May 2024 20:12:24 +0000

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Spitfire Mk IX MK356 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Spitfire Mk IX MK356 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight crashed on Saturday, May 25, not far from its base at RAF Coningsby. The pilot, whose identity has not yet been revealed, tragically died in the accident.

According to witnesses, the Spitfire appeared to have suffered an engine failure.

The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX MK356 (Photo © Alan Wilson under CC BY-SA 2.0 license)

Built in early 1944, the Spitfire Mk IX MK356 was returned to flight in 1997. This is the first fatal accident since the commemorative unit was established in 1957.

We extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased pilot as well as to the members of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

UK : Pilot wounded in crash of Wildcat AX733

World Warbird News — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 20:34:34 +0000

A U.S. Navy Grumman F4F-3 in early 1942.(Photo US Navy)

The pilot of the Grumman FM-2 Wildcat AX733 (registered G-KINL) was seriously wounded in a crash at Heveningham Hall near Halesworth, Suffolk, in the United-Kingdom.

Thankfully, the few available sources seem to indicate that the pilot’s injuries were non-life-threatening and that he has left the hospital.

The aircraft made its first post-restoration flight only a few months ago after a six-year restoration.

We wish the pilot a speedy and full recovery !

Sources:

Paul Ehlen killed in crash of his Curtiss P-40E Warhawk in Montana

World Warbird News — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:58:47 +0000

The Curtiss P-40E AK753 at Oshkosh (Photo © Damien Defever)

It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Paul Ehlen. He crashed yesterday afternoon in Curtiss P-40E Warhawk ‘AK753’, registered as N4420K and belonging to the Wings of the North Air Museum, near Hamilton, Montana.

Paul Ehlenpilot and owner of the Curtiss P-40E (Photo via WOTN Facebook page)

Little information is available about this tragic event but the police announced that Paul Ehlen, the museum’s founder, was at the controls and did not survive the crash.

An investigation conducted jointly by the FAA and the NTSB has been launched to determine the causes of the accident.

The P-40E Warhawk was restored by Ron Fagen and his museum, the Fagen Fighter Museum, a few years ago and was acquired by the Wings of the North museum in July of last year.

The team at World Warbird News extend their deepest condolences to the family of Paul Ehlen, his friends, and all the members of the Wings of the North Air Museum.

Three wounded in Beech 18 crash in Corsica

World Warbird News — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 10:42:14 +0000

Only a few days after the Beech 18 runway excursion at the Paris Air Legend airshow, we have learned that the Beech 18 registered G-BKGL crashed yesterday near Vescovato in Corsica.

According to local authorities, the three people on board were wounded. One has reportedly suffered severe burns, and is in a life-threatening condition. A second occupant was severely wounded. The aircraft had been destroyed.

This aircraft was well known by aviation enthusiasts as it was based at Duxford in the United-Kingdom for several years.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims of this accident, and their families.

Sources (in French) :

Beech 18 damaged in take-off accident at Paris Air Legend airshow

World Warbird News — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 21:30:27 +0000

Beech E.18S F-AZEJ (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Beechcraft Model 18 (E18S) F-AZEJ belonging to the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis was damaged today in a take-off accident on the first day of the Paris Air Legend 2021 airshow. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the accident. The aircraft reportedly struggled to get airborne, veering off the runway and coming to a stop in an adjacent field. Photos of the accident appear to indicate moderate damage.

Correction (12 September 2021) : according to Le Parisien, the pilot appears to have suffered minor wounds.

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One killed in Flying Bull T-28 crash in the Czech Republic

World Warbird News — Sun, 20 Jun 2021 20:25:34 +0000

The T-28B Trojan BuNo 138179 registered OE-ESA (Photo C.J. van de Burgt (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

We have just learned of the tragic crash of North American T-28B Trojan BuNo 138179 registered OE-ESA of the Austrian Flying Bull collection. The aircraft crashed in Jickovice in the Czech Republic as it was returning from the Leźno airshow in Poland.

T-28B Bu138179 OE-ESA in 2018 ( Photo Pavel Vanka (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) )

Pilot Rainer Steinberger was killed in the accident and his passenger was injured and hospitalized in Prague. The cause of the accident is unknown at this time.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Rainer Steinberger, and our best wishes to the survivor of this tragic accident.

Sources:

21 June 2021 update : The name of the pilot and the status of the passenger have been made public.