The accident occurred on Thursday, August 28, around 7:30 p.m. The F-16 "hawk" fighter from the F-16 Tiger Demo squad team crashed in Radom. The operational command of the RSZ in the communication stated that Major Maciej "Slab" Krakowian was killed in the accident. In the media, experts comment on possible causes of the disaster.
Possible causes of the tragic F-16 accident
Grzegorz Brychczyński, an aviation expert from the Association of Communication Engineers and Engineers of the Republic of Poland, asked about the causes of the Thursday crash in conversation with Radio Eska said: "The primary origin of the accident is that the pilot brought the device out of the dive flight besides late.
The expert pointed out that the recordings show that Major Krakowian was trying to do this due to the fact that the aircraft's nose was somewhat elevated above the horizon. “This clearly means that the pilot was saving himself and trying to get out of this flight, but the laws of physics are inexorable,” he said.
Brychczyński besides talked about the possible influence of the weather. At the time of the accident, there was a advanced temperature, and the air density was small, which did not favour the bearing force on the wings. "This is likely the origin of the incident, although the final conclusions belong to the committee investigating the accident," he added.
Expert wonders about utilizing a booster
– I don't realize why the pilot utilized a booster during training. The boost turns on erstwhile you want to get higher speed, but this plane has specified a strong engine that all evolutions can be performed without it – Grzegorz Brychczyński continued.
At the same time, he noted that the pilot "was so trained in flights on large overloads that he did not request additional support to execute aerobatic figures". Brychczyński explained that the committee would analyse an accident in the alleged investigation triad. It's about the pilot, the device and the weather. The psychophysical condition of the pilot, method condition of the device and atmospheric conditions will be analysed.
– It happens that even the most experienced pilots sometimes approach acrobatics besides lightly. And after all, there is no flight "without borders" – the weather and the component of air always stay limitations," he said.
At the same time, he stressed that the method condition of Polish aircraft is very good, thanks to highly qualified mechanics, trained in the United States and having teacher privileges.
Major Maciej Krakowian died during training
Major Maciej Krakowian served in the 31st Tactical Aviation Base in Poznań-Krzesiny. He had over 1,400 hours of raiding, of which about 1,200 on the F-16. He besides served as the leader of Tiger Demo squad Poland.
He was late awarded the prestigious "As the Crow Flies Trophy" award during the Royal global Air Tattoo 2025 in the UK, 1 of the most crucial aviation events in the world.
