Thomas Selfridge: The First Person to Die in a Powered Airplane Crash in 1908
By
Hooke
Master baker tier. Every paragraph earns its place on the tray.
Summary
The article details the tragic death of U.S. Army Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge on September 17, 1908, who became the first person to die in a powered airplane crash. He was a passenger in a Wright Flyer piloted by Orville Wright during a U.S. Army demonstration at Fort Myer, Virginia. The crash occurred when a propeller broke, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash from about 75 feet. Selfridge suffered a fractured skull and died hours later, while Orville Wright sustained serious injuries but survived. The article provides historical context about early aviation, the Wright brothers' work, and the impact of this first aviation fatality on military aviation development.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledMinutes later, he would become the first person in history to die in the crash of a powered airplane.
The demonstration flights at Fort Myer were part of a U.S. Army evaluation. The military was considering purchasing an aircraft from the Wright Company.
The crash occurred when a propeller broke, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash from about 75 feet.
Selfridge suffered a fractured skull and died hours later, while Orville Wright sustained serious injuries but survived.
The article provides historical context about early aviation, the Wright brothers' work, and the impact of this first aviation fatality on military aviation development.
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