LESZNO, Poland — A vintage North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco based out of the European Fighter Aircraft Museum in Montélimar, France, was involved in a landing accident this morning at Leszno-Strzyżewice Airfield (QPF) in Poland.
The aircraft, registered as F-AZKM, was completing a practice flight ahead of its anticipated performance at the popular Antidotum Airshow Leszno when the incident occurred.
Gear-Up Landing on the Runway
Preliminary reports and eyewitness accounts indicate that the twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft came to a rest on its belly, suggesting a landing gear malfunction or an accidental gear-up landing.
OV-10 Bronco belly landing in Leszno
by u/kamasuka84 in aviation
Airport emergency services were dispatched to the scene immediately to secure the aircraft. While the airframe sustained notable damage, there was no post-crash fire.
Pilot Status: Shaken But Safe
The pilot, affectionately known in the warbird community as “Chuck,” managed to egress the cockpit unaided. While understandably shaken by the rough touchdown, he was coherent and mobile.
As a standard precautionary measure following high-impact incidents, Chuck was transported to a local hospital to undergo a thorough medical examination.
“I’m doing okay, just dealing with some back pain,” Chuck communicated shortly after the incident, reassuring friends and museum colleagues.
A Blow to the European Warbird Community
The Montélimar museum’s OV-10 Bronco is a crowd favorite on the European airshow circuit, celebrated for its unique twin-boom design and agile aerial displays.
An investigation into the exact cause of the landing incident is currently underway by Polish aviation authorities. Airshow organizers have not yet announced how this will affect the remaining schedule for the Antidotum event, but the aviation community is universally relieved that Chuck escaped serious injury.
