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Wright B Flyer replica accident

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.

From SETP by email:-

Quote:

The Society is very sad to report that Mitchell D. Cary (M) was killed while taking part in a test flight of a Wright “B” Flyer replica on Saturday, 30 July, in Clark County, Ohio. Mitch was taking part in a test flight of the new aircraft as required by the FAA. The aircraft, referred to as the “Silver Bird,” was designed and built by volunteers of Wright “B” Flyer Inc, of which Mitch was a member of the Board of Trustees and former President. Mitch was very active in the Great Lakes Section of SETP, serving as an officer of the Section several times from 1998 to 2009. Mitch was also very active in the planning of the annual Great Lakes symposium and will be greatly missed by his many friends.

The arrangements for Mitch: Visitation at Tobias Funeral Home, 3970 Dayton Xenia Rd, Beavercreek, from 4-7pm on Wednesday, 3 August. Services will be on Thursday, 4 August at Bethel Community Church of the Nazarene, 4400 Osborn Rd., Medway, with visitation from 3-4pm and services at 4pm.

Probable cause from NTSB indicates prop flange weld failure on the left-hand prop shaft, combined with a failure to (equivalent of) maintain Vmca.