Wright B Flyer replica accident

[Graybeard]

Sad event. And a trained test pilot at that.

Here's some historical perspective:

The Watertown (NY) Re-Union
Saturday, June 15, 1912

TWO AIRMEN ARE KILLED

Army Aviator and Professional Flier Are Victims

Washington, June 14.—Lieutenant Leighton W. Hazelhurst, an army aviator, and Al Welsh, a professional flier, were dashed to instant death at College Park, Md. The Wright biplane which they were testing had risen about thirty feet and was going at a speed of about fifty miles an hour when it pitched suddenly forward. When spectators reached the scene of the accident it was found that both men were dead. Lieutenant Hazelhurst's neck was broken and Welsh's skull was crushed. The machine was badly shattered. The cause of the accident is unknown, though it is believed that some of the supporting wires between the plane snapped suddenly and caused it to plunge forward.

Immediately following the accident Lieut. Hazelhurst and Welsh were rushed to the Walter Reed General hospital, but death had been immediate. The death of Lieutenant Hazelhurst is the third that has occurred among the army aviators. Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge was killed at Fort Meyer in a Wright biplane in September, 1908, and Lieutenant John Kelly was killed at San AntonioTexas, in March, 1911.

Watertown Herald

Saturday, June 22, 1912

An army investigating board reported that too sharp a turn at high speed caused the death of Lieutenant Hazlehurst and A. L. Walsh in the fall of a Wright biplane at College Park, Md.

Watertown Re-Union

Wednesday, October 2, 1912

Lieutenant Lewis C. Rockwell and Corporal Frank Scott of the army aviation corp. were killed in aeroplane accident at College Park, Md.