The First Aircraft Fatal Accident
|
|
ACCIDENT DETAILS |
|
Date: |
September
17, 1908 |
|
Time: |
17:18 |
|
Location: |
Fort
Myer, Virginia |
|
Operator: |
Military
- U.S. Army |
|
Flight #: |
? |
|
Route: |
Demonstration |
|
AC Type: |
Wright
Flyer III |
|
Registration: |
? |
|
cn / ln: |
1 |
|
Aboard: |
2
(passengers:1 crew:1) |
|
Fatalities: |
1
(passengers:1 crew:0) |
|
Ground: |
0 |
|
Summary: |
During a
demonstration flight, a U.S. Army flyer flown by Orville Wright nose-dived
into the ground from a height of approximately 75 feet, killing Lt. Thomas E.
Selfridge who was a passenger. This was the first recorded airplane fatality
in history. One of two propellers separated in flight, tearing loose the
wires bracing the rudder and causing the loss of control of the aircraft.
Orville Wright suffered broken ribs, pelvis and a leg. Selfridge suffered a
crushed skull and died a short time later. |