Accidents and catastrophes of MiG-21 aircraft in Poland.

Jan 2, 2020

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Plane crash

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Karol

Kraków 2020-01-02

Accidents and catastrophes of MiG-21 aircraft in Poland.

Disasters, accidents and breakdowns on MiG-21 aircraft of all versions.

MiG-21 MF nb 9113. 2012. Photo by Karol Placha Hetman

During the 40 years of operation of the MiG-21 fighter aircraft, about 90 accidents and disasters occurred. 43 pilots and three people were killed. 582 MiG-21 aircraft were operated in the Polish Army.

On November 20, 1963, at 62 PLM, Krzesiny airport, the first accident with the participation of the MiG-21 F-13 nb 2016 No. 742016 took place. During the night landing two machines collided. The pilot of the MiG-21 was Lieutenant Wawrzyniec Czapiga, 1st class pilot. The pilot died on the spot. The pilot was returning from the task of capturing an air target at night. The second plane was the MiG-21 F-13 nb 2220 (it was possible that it was the Lim-5 nb 222), it was piloted by Captain Ludwik Podraz, who did nothing and managed to land.
On June 23, 1965, the MiG-21 F-13 nb 814/4814 aircraft no. 740814 suffered a catastrophe, in which the pilot captain Eugeniusz Mochnacki was killed. Around the village of Podn’tbiec. The plane belonged to 40 PLM Świdwin.
On June 23, 1965, on the MiG-21 F-13 aircraft belonging to 40 PLM with 11 DLM in Świdwin, pilot-lieutenant Cyril Royal was killed. Around the village of Chlebówek.
On February 23, 1966, the MiG-21 F-13 with 62 PLM had an accident. Pilot lieutenant Roman Kałamoniak survived. Krzesiny airport.
On 30.06.1966, the accident was MiG-21 PF nb 2405 No. 762405 with 1 PLM. Pilot lieutenant Władysław Betka was killed. Around the town of Olszyna. The flight was performed by a pair of planes. Władysław Betka was led. When passing through the clouds, the pilot lost sight of the leader. According to the procedure, he should go right to avoid collision. However, the pilot lost spatial orientation and the plane was lost. The pilot tried to catapult, but because of the low altitude, the parachute did not unfold.
In 1967, there was a black series of MiG-21 aircraft accidents. In total, seven MiG-21 F-13, PF, PFM aircraft crashed. They were particularly tragic for 26 PLM from Zegrze Pomorskie, where two young pilots were killed.
On January 28, 1967, the accident was the MiG-21 PF with 41 PLM in Malbork. Pilot lieutenant Sławomir Szczawiński survived. Malbork airport.
On March 8, 1967, the MiG-21 F-13 crash with 4 PLM Goleniów. Lieutenant pilot Paweł Kacprzak was killed. Around the village of Wierzchosław.
On April 4, 1967, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 4110 No. 94 A 4110 from 41 PLM in Malbork. The pilot survived.
On April 17, 1967, the MiG-21 PF nb 2008 No. 762008 with 26 PLM in Zegrze Pomorski suffered a catastrophe. Pilot lieutenant Czesław Rawski was killed. Around the village of Racibórz Polanowski. The plane collided with the ground. The causes of the disaster have not been established.
On 19.06.1967, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 4111 No. 94 A 4111. The pilot survived.
On August 28, 1967, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 4204 No. 94 A 4204 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived. Other sources give the date January 23, 1968.
On 28.09.1967, the accident was the MiG-21 PF with 26 PLM. Lieutenant pilot Mieczysław Brańka was killed. Around the village of Mostowo. The accident happened during night flights under normal atmospheric conditions, during landing. The causes of the disaster have not been established.
In 1968, five planes were lost and two pilots were killed. January 1968 was particularly critical.On January 22, 1968, the accident was MiG-21 F-13 nb 2403 No. 762403 with 62 PLM. The pilot survived.
On January 22, 1968, the MiG-21 PF with 1 PLM suffered an accident. Pilot lieutenant Waleta Ziętek was killed. Around the village of Zasiadły. The pilot made a night flight. According to eyewitness reports on board there was a fire and the plane in a fireball fell to the ground. The causes of the disaster have not been established.
On January 23, 1968, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 5402 No. 94 A 5402 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On January 23, 1968, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 07 No. 94 ML-07 with 40 PLM. The pilot survived.
On May 23, 1968, at 6:35, MiG-21 PFM nb 6514 No. 94 A 6514 with 26 PLM crashed. Pilot lieutenant Włodzimierz Łubniewski was killed. Around the village of Rosnowo. The disaster happened just after takeoff. There is a monument at the crash site.
On January 24, 1969, the MiG-21 PFM with 11 PLM near the town of Zamłynie suffered a catastrophe. Lieutenant pilot Mieczysław Wojciechowski was killed. According to world reports, the pilot did not catapult, because he wanted to avoid collision with houses and death of people staying in them. There is a monument at the crash site.
On February 24, 1969, in the 62 PLM in Krzesiny, the MiG-21 F-13 crashed immediately after the start, in which the captain Andrzej Lewandowski was killed. Krzesiny airport.

On 12.08.1969, the accident was the MiG-21 PFM nb 7014 with 34 PLM, near the town of Tuławki. Pilot captain Piotr Kromołowski was killed.

On 13.08.1969, the MiG-21 PFM No. 94N7813 from 26 PLM, near Tczew, the Czyżykowo estate suffered a crash. Pilot captain Zenon Doliński was killed. The Regiment from Debrzno performed flights at NTWA, taking advantage of the storms and Malbork airport. The next task of the day was a flight on the Malbork – Słupsk – Debrzno route, with the simultaneous interception of air targets, i.e. in twos. The first started captain Zenon Doliński at 21:18. Shortly after taking off from Malbork, the plane entered a storm cloud. There were difficult to describe atmospheric conditions (turbulence and lightning) and the plane crashed to the ground. The pilot died on the spot. It was 21:21. The press reported the crash and the death of the pilot, which was not the norm at the time.
On April 2, 1970, the MiG-21 PF with 10 PLM near Szydłowiec suffered a catastrophe. Lieutenant pilot Wiesław Bolek was killed. He was a 1st class pilot, raided 547 hours. On this day flights were carried out in NTWA. The plane collapsed and the pilot died on the spot. Clear causes of the disaster have not been established. The pilot probably lost the spatial orientation.
On 3.09.1970, the accident was MiG-21 M nb 1815 No. 961815 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.On 18.09.1970, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 6912 No. 94 A 6912 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On November 9, 1970, the accident was the MiG-21 PF with 1 PLM, near the town of Pęcław. Pilot lieutenant Wiktor Panczyj was killed. 1 PLM Minsk Mazowiecki and 62 PLM from Krzesiny practiced flights in NZWA. Two MiG-21 PF aircraft collided: Lieutenant Piotr Maika (62 PLM) and Lieutenant Wiktor Panczyj (1 PLM). Despite the damage, the first plane landed. A second plane crashed, burying the pilot. Clear causes of the tragedy have not been established.
On February 16, 1971, the accident was the MiG-21 PFM with 11 PLM, near the town of Wrzaca Śląska. Pilot captain Henryk Osierda was killed.
On May 6, 1971, the accident was the MiG-21 U with 39 PLM at the airport in Mierzecice. Major Pilot Alfred Grzechulski was killed.
On 11.05.1971, at the 40 PLM airport in Świdnica, the MiG-21 F-13 nb 0905 No. 760905 collided with the MiG-21 U nb 1219 aircraft.
On 27.07.1971, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 6511 No. 966511 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On August 31, 1971, in 26 PLM there was a collision MiG-21 PFM nb 5611 with MiG-21 PFM nb 5310.
1972, was the first in which there was no catastrophe and accident of the MiG-21 aircraft.
On 3 July 1973, the MiG-21 of 26 PLM Zegrze Pomorskie suffered a catastrophe. Pilot por Henryk Zieliński was killed. He carried out the task of flight for aerial combat during the day. The causes of the disaster have not been established.
On 24.08.1973, the MiG-21 F-13 with 2 PLM, over the island of Wolin, suffered a catastrophe. Lieutenant pilot Jan Turowski was killed. The causes of the disaster have not been established. At that time there was bad weather.1974, was another in which there was no disaster and accident of the MiG-21 aircraft.
1975 was the year in which five accidents occurred, but no pilot was killed. For all these accidents, it is difficult to determine the exact date.
On 12.08.1975, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 7813 No. 967813 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On August 12, 1975, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 9013 No. 969013 with 26 PLM. The pilot survived.
On December 31, 1975, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 7808 No. 967808 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On December 31, 1975, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 9104 No. 969104 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On December 31, 1975, the accident was MiG-21 M nb 2002 No. 962002 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On July 7, 1976, the accident was MiG-21 US nb 4609 No. 09685146 with 62 PLM at the Krzesiny airport. Lieutenant pilots Antoni Babkiewicz and Romuald Rejewski were killed.
On June 15, 1977, the MiG-21 MF with 41 PLM near Bogatka suffered an accident. Pilot lieutenant Mieczysław Huza. Pilot’s fate unknown.
On 20.09.1977, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 7905 No. 967905 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.On November 14, 1977, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 8908 No. 968908 with 26 PLM. The pilot survived.
On 16.01.1978, the accident was MiG-21 M nb 1317 No. 661317 with 1 PLM. The pilot survived.
On January 16, 1978, the MiG-21 U with 39 PLM crashed at the airport in Mierzęcice. Pilot (trained) lieutenant Tomasz Smaga was killed. Pilot instructor from the other cabin catapulted safely. During a school flight in NZWA near Siewierz, an engine failure occurred. During the catapulting there was no separation of the pilot from the chair and the pilot fell to the ground with the chair, dying on the spot. The OKR-2 oxygen hose was too long, tangled and broke.
On 14.06.1978, the accident was MiG-21 M nb 1220 No. 661220 from CSL in Modlin. The pilot survived.
On June 14, 1978, the MiG-21 U from the 11th PLM at the Wrocław-Starachowice airport had an accident. Captain Zbigniew Jancewicz was killed. The pilot was buried in Wrocław at the Osobowice Cemetery.
On 30.07.1978, the accident was MiG-21 M nb 1908 No. 961908. The pilot survived.
On August 14, 1978, the accident was MiG-21 F-13 nb 0704 No. 760704 with 62 PLM. The pilot survived.
On March 22, 1979, the accident was MiG-21 F-13 nb 1705 No. 761705 with 62 PLM. The pilot survived.
On March 22, 1979, the MiG-21 PF nb 1705 with 10 PLM suffered a disaster, over the training ground Nowa Dęba. Pilot Captain Walenty Giegiel. He had 1,498 hours of flight time on TS-8 Bies, UTI MiG-15, Lim-2, Lim-5, and MiG-21 aircraft. He was a 1st class pilot. At 16:50, after recognizing ground targets at the training ground, he decided to attack. He made the incident with high tilt and low flight speed. This caused the aircraft to move to critical angles of attack and, consequently, a drastic decrease in lift. The plane collapsed on the wing and hit the ground. Captain pilot Walenty Giegiel was killed on the spot. The cause of the disaster was considered a pilot error, but witnesses claim that the aircraft engine was not working properly.
On 20.06.1979, the accident was MiG-21 nb 2011 No. 962011 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On August 2, 1979, the accident was MiG-21 PF nb 2409 No. 762409 with 11 PLM. The plane has been repaired.
On February 25, 1980, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 6602 No. 94 A 6602 with 26 PLM. The pilot survived.
On 1.10.1980, MiG-21 UM nb 3061 No. 516913061 with 10 PLM at the airport in Łask suffered a crash. Pilot instructor lieutenant colonel Roman Ivanov was killed. During the flight, the cover of the second cabin broke off and damaged the catapult system. The pilot from the first cabin fired because he thought the instructor had left the plane. The instructor could not catapult and collapsed on the plane, dying on the spot.
On 12.12.1980, the MiG-21 PFM from 2 PLM Goleniów near Wierzchłamwa suffered a catastrophe. Pilot lieutenant colonel Henryk Halka was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Henryk Halka was the commander of the Regiment. He was a candidate for the Polish astronaut in a group of four. He died shortly after taking off from Goleniów Airport in DTWA. Clear causes of the disaster have not been established.
On 26.01.1981, the MiG-21 bis nb 0786 No. 75080786 from 34 PLM at the Gdynia-Babie Doły airport crashed. Lieutenant pilot Witold Kowalewski was killed on the spot.
On May 22, 1981, the MiG-21 PFM with 39 PLM had an accident during exercise at CCCP near Ashaluk (Astrakhan). Major pilot Lesław Maślankiewicz was killed. Cause of the disaster unknown.
On 05.06.1981, MiG-21 UM nb 9314 No. 516999314 with 34 PLM at the Babie Doły airport suffered a catastrophe. Lieutenant pilots Bolesław Sobania and Andrzej Leśnik were killed.
On July 9, 1981, the MiG-21 PF with 1 PLM near Drążdżewo, 48 km east of Ciechanów, suffered an accident. Lieutenant pilot Krzysztof Czerwiński was killed on the spot. The plane crashed into the ground.
On May 17, 1982, the accident was the MiG-21 MF nb 7806 No. 967806 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On June 17, 1982, the accident was MiG-21 bis nb 9027 No. 75089027 with 34 PLM. The plane collided with the ground. The pilot survived.
On September 22, 1982, the MiG-21 M of 9 PLM near Rogowo suffered a disaster. Lieutenant pilot Stanisław Pawlak was killed.
On 12.05.1983, the accident was the MiG-21 PFM with 2 PLM at the Goleniów airport. Lieutenant pilot Wiesław Kalicki catapulted at an altitude of 3,900 m.
On September 1, 1983, the MiG-21 PFM with 2 PLM over the Nadarzyce training ground suffered an accident. Pilot captain Roman Jóźwik survived.
On November 29, 1983, the accident was MiG-21 MF nb 7915 No. 967915 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On February 2, 1983, the MiG-21 MF with 4 PLM near Rychowa suffered an accident. Lieutenant Eugeniusz Wojciechowski. Pilot’s fate unknown.
On December 21, 1983, the accident was the MiG-21 PFM with 62 PLM at the Krzesiny airport. Pilot Captain Zbigniew Stachurski. Pilot’s fate unknown.
On February 18, 1984, the MiG-21 PF with 1 PLM near Kolonia Czarno suffered a crash. Major pilot Jerzy Moryc was killed. Task – technical flight after replacing the fuel pump. At a height of 14,000 m, communication with the pilot was lost. The plane stuck vertically into the ground. The causes of the disaster have not been established.
In March 1984, the accident was the MiG-21 MF nb 9203 No. 969203 with 41 PLM. The pilot survived.
On 11.05.1985, at 9:15, the MiG-21 UM nb 6508 with 32 PLRT suffered a catastrophe. Pilots captain Zbigniew Pawełek and lieutenant colonel Tadeusz Tworzydło were killed. At that time, 32 PLRT operated from Świdwin Airport.
On May 21, 1985, the accident was the MiG-21 PF with 1 PLM at the airport in Minsk Mazowiecki. Pilot lieutenant Stanisław Lubojański. Pilot’s fate unknown.
On August 6, 1985, the MiG-21 UM nb 9322 with 9 PLM at the airport in Debrzno suffered a crash. Pilots captain Wiesław Siniarski and lieutenant colonel Zygmunt Maćkowiak were killed. Three people on earth were also killed, including a child who died in hospital. These people were on the currant plantation. The crew practiced a demonstration flight. The reason was a pilot error.
On February 23, 1986, the accident was MiG-21 F-13 nb 1711 No. 761711 with 62 PLM.
On July 2, 1986, the accident was the MiG-21 PFM with 62 PLM near Janów. Pilot captain Ryszard Wilczek. The pilot was killed.
On 3.06.1987, the MiG-21 R nb 1911 from 32 PLRT suffered a crash. Pilot lieutenant colonel Henryk Przychodzień, 1st class pilot, died. Town of Straszewy. The pilot in flight at a speed of 850 km / h, at an altitude of 200 m, with a tilt to the left wing, briefly looked at the map reading the location of the detected target, hit the ground.
On March 4, 1988, the MiG-21 MF with 11 PLM at the Starachowice-Wrocław airport suffered a crash. Pilot lieutenant Jarosław Górecki was killed during take-off for a night flight. The cause of the catastrophe was engine malfunction resulting from damage to the air duct supplying pressurized air to the afterburner fuel pump. Excessive fuel caused the turbine blades to burn and the engine stopped. In the place where the pilot died, colleagues from JW. 1465 placed a commemorative plaque.
On 13.04.1989, the MiG-21 bis nb 0774 aircraft with 34 PLM suffered an accident. It was repaired and continued to serve.
On June 16, 1988, the MiG-21 bis nb 9095 No. 75089095 with 34 PLM at the Babie Doły airport suffered a catastrophe. Pilot lieutenant Wojciech Kucharski was killed. The plane approached the landing and hooked the landing gear onto the shaft in front of the take-off field. The plane turned sideways and hit the ground. Pilot lieutenant Wojciech Kucharski was killed on the spot. The commission said the pilot was approaching the landing too flat.
On 13.04.1989, the accident was MiG-21 bis nb 0701 No. 75080701 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On November 16, 1990, at 18:00, the MiG-21 bis from 9 PLM (Zegrze Pomorskie) near Mostowo, in the town of Drzewiany, suffered a catastrophe. Lieutenant pilot Andrzej Seroka was killed. The flight was carried out in difficult weather conditions. The cause of the disaster is unexplained. A monument is set up at the crash site.
On March 1, 1991, the MiG-21 MF nb 7405 No. 96007405 aircraft with 34 PLM collided with the MiG-21 fighter aircraft with 11 PLM. The pilots survived.
On 5.05 (08) 1992, the accident was MiG-21 bis nb 8645 No. 75078645 with 34 PLM. The pilot survived.
On November 20, 1992, in the disaster of MiG-21 PFM nb 5614 No. 94 A 5614 of 26 PLM from Zegrze Pomorskie (62 PLM), pilot lieutenant Roman Jacek was killed. The pilot took off from Krzesiny Airport, for a night flight in difficult weather conditions. After the start, the backlight of the on-board instruments went out, as reported by the pilot. He was ordered to rise above the clouds. But then the plane was already in back flight. The pilot pulled the stick on himself and drove at full speed to the ground near the village of Palędzie.
On February 25, 1994, the accident occurred during the start of the MiG-21 bis nb 8918 No. 75078918 with 34 PLM. The pilot managed to catapult and survived.
On June 28, 1996, the MiG-21 bis from the 1st MW Aviation Division, Babie Doły airport, near the mouth of the Piaśnica River, 3 km from Dąbki suffered a catastrophe. The plane fell into the sea. Navy captain pilot Sławomir Guzowski was killed.
On July 29, 1996, MiG-21 bis nb 8890 with 1 DL MW as a result of an accident fell into the Bay of Puck. The pilot was happily catapulting.
On June 10, 1997, the accident was MiG-21 PFM nb 6607 No. 94 A 6607 out of 3 (there were 62) PLM in Krzesiny.
On October 29, 1999, MiG-21 bis nb 0887 from Babich Dół crashed on the Hel Peninsula. The pilot was happily catapulting.
On July 14, 2000, the MiG-21 bis from 41 PLM accident in Malbork crashed at the training ground in Nadarzyce near Piła. An experienced 36-year-old major pilot Dariusz Mikołajczyk catapulted too late and died.
On 27.09.2001, at 13:25, MiG-21 of 41 ELT in Malbork crashed in the town of Nowa Pilona near Elbląg, 50 meters from buildings and 200 meters from road No. 7 Warsaw-Gdańsk. Pilot Stanisław B. catapulted at an altitude of 3,000 m and survived despite the injuries. The pilot had 18 years of aviation experience.

The tally may contain unintentional errors and inaccuracies. We apologize to the pilots and their families for mistakes. The list was created in 2007 and is regularly updated.

 Written by Karol Placha Hetman