The Wright brothers just glided in 1903. They flew in 1908.

[simplex1]

Rodliffe personally interviewed the witnesses to the 1903 flights while they were still alive and cross-checked what they said to confirm the dates.

If we are to believe the witnesses of Rodliffe then I do not see any reason not to thrust the witnesses of Stella Randolph who were interviewed and signed declarations that they had seen Gustav Whitehead flying a powered plane in 1899, 1901 and 1902.

"Stella Randolph's 1937 book "Lost Flights Of Gustave Whitehead" presented what evidence there was that Whitehead flew aboard a powered flying machine in 1899, or 1901, or 1902 (all were claimed as years in which Whitehead flew). It is an interesting book which includes signed affidavits attesting that flights were made and witnessed"
Source: http://www.flyingmachines.org/gwhtd.html

If everything comes down to witnesses then Whitehead has a clear priority over Pearse.