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Aircraft Crash Videos (When Planes go Bad)
Freely Downloadable Aviation "Incident" Videos
Last Updated 12/09/2010 a

This site provides a huge number of aviation incident and aircraft crash videos.

NOTE: All logos, sounds & artwork retain their original copyright. All files are for provided for research, educational, criticism, or review. These files were collected from a number of publicly accessible sites on the web that made no mention or assertion of copyright over these files or the collection. These files are provided on this site under fair use purely for your own personal use and enjoyment. Any copyright assertions on these files belong to the original copyright owners. If you are the copyright owner of a file on this website and you object to it being here please contact me with details and I will be happy to remove the file or provide the necessary citation of the original copyright owner. A full disclaimer is here.

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F-16 Thunderbird Crash at Airshow
In September 2003 a Thunderbird F-16C crashed just after takeoff during an air show performance in Idaho. The pilot managed to eject just 0.8 seconds before impact and walked away with only minor injuries. Being at an airshow there were a large number of cameras trained on Thunderbird #6 when the accident occurred. That said the photo shown opposite of the $21 million jet fractions of a second before impact is truly remarkable.

There are a large number of amazing videos related to this crash:

  1. Video clip from onboard camera. (MPG 4.1 MB)
    Shows the split-S maneuver and subsequent ejection from inside the cockpit. It is amazing just how calm the pilot looks.
  2. Video clip from ground level. (WMV 1.3 MB)
    This is the view from ground level. It is every bit as dramatic as the onboard cockpit view.

As a side note, the accident investigation report was published in January 2004 and  concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error. The pilot miscalculated the altitude required to complete his Split S maneuver. He made his calculation based on an incorrect mean-sea-level (MSL) altitude for the airfield. The pilot incorrectly climbed to and altitude of 1,670 feet above ground level (AGL) instead of 2,500 feet AGL before initiating the pull down to the Split S maneuver.

A simple mistake that cost 21 million bucks!
 


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Airbus A320 Crashes into Trees at 1988 French Airshow
This video shows a brand new Air France Airbus A320 making what was supposed to be a fly-by at a 1988 airshow in Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport. The pilot claimed the highly automated fly by wire control software on the A320 failed to respond properly to his commands. The official investigation blamed pilot error as the cause of the crash. However, it was later revealed that both the aircraft’s black boxes had been switched after the crash. Thus who knows what really happened? (24 second long  MPEG, 0.983 MB)
 
B-52 Crashes After Crew Exceed Flight Envelope
The flight crew of this B-52 was attempting to execute a low speed, low altitude, 90 degree bank in a B-52 during a rehearsal for the 1994 Fairchild AFB air show. Unfortunately the maneuver exceeded the aircraft's capabilities and published limitations, with predictable results. An in-depth overview of this crash and the problems with the command and control structure at Fairchild in the months leading up to the crash that ultimately lead to this tragic accident is available here. (26 second MPEG, 1.0 MB)

 
Commuter Plane Crashes During High Performance Landing Demonstration
Since the pilot's goal during a "Flight demonstration” is to show the full range of an aircraft's flight envelop so their execution involved high-risk flight profiles. In this video a  commuter aircraft was being demonstrated for potential buyers when a high performance landing attempt went awry. One can only assume that the manufacturer did not fare very well in the sales department on this particular day. One also assumes that the rather incompetent pilot also no longer has his job. (4 second MPEG, 0.789 MB)
F-15 Midair Collision
There's nothing like a good mid-air collision to ruin your entire day. In this video clip two F-15's try to share the same piece of airspace at the same time. Never a good idea on the best of days. The pilot of this plane sounds a little stressed out when he makes his mayday call. I wonder what happened to the other plane. (20 second WMV, 0.693 MB)
Two Russian MiGs Collide at Airshow
It's not clear if these are MiGs or Sukhoi fighters but either way this is an amazing clip of two planes colliding during an air show performance. What is even more incredible is that both pilots survive with only minor injuries. One plane slices the cockpit off of the other and yet the ejection seat still works flawlessly.
Update 09/14/2007 - Matthew emailed to say "This crash happened at Fairford Airshow (UK) probably about 13 years ago now.  Both Pilots survived although one received a broken jaw, from a right hook from the other pilot, upon landing safely!!!"

(33 second MPEG, 2.2 MB)

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