First fatal air crash,1908. Spectators and army personnel tending to the victim of the crash of the Wright Military Flyer (Wright Model A) at Fort Myer,Virginia,USA,on 17 September 1908. The pilot was the designer Orville Wright (1871-1948),with fellow aviator Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge (1882-1908) as a passenger. During the flight,in front of a large crowd,a propeller broke,one of the rudders tore lose,and the aircraft nose-dived into the ground from over 20 metres. The aircraft (background) was destroyed. Wright broke a leg and ribs. Selfridge died from a fractured skull,never regaining consciousness after the crash |