What happened
On August 14, 2022, during the "Cheb Airshow 2022," a Hawker Hurricane Mk IV, registration OO-HUR, crashed approximately 1 km southwest of the Cheb airfield (LKCB). The pilot was performing a scheduled aerobatic display when, following a series of maneuvers, he initiated a steep climb transitioning into a high-bank turn. During the descending phase of this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep descending turn that led to an asymmetric stall.
Despite the pilot's attempt to recover the aircraft using opposite aileron, the low altitude prevented the recovery from being completed. The aircraft struck the ground with its fuselage and right wing, subsequently striking a gas regulation station and an electrical concrete pole. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined video recordings, photographs, and witness statements from the airshow. The investigation established that the pilot was fully qualified and medically fit for the flight. While the pilot had noted a landing gear indication error shortly after takeoff—requesting verification from the radio station—the gear was visually confirmed to be retracted during subsequent passes.
The investigation also compared the flight sequence of the accident to the pilot's successful performance on the previous day, noting significant differences in the types and execution of the maneuvers performed during the critical flight.