Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-14
ACCIDENT MARS THE FLIGHT
Wright Aeroplane Injured as Demon
strstor Makes New Landing.
FORMER EFFORTS ARE ECL1PsEn
Big Machine Makes seven Tours of
Field and Remains in the Air
Almost Nine MInues BE-
fore Accident.

LEMANs. France. Aug. 1S.-The Wright
seroplane suffered an accident this morn
ing which will require several days and
possibly week to repair. After two
superb flights. Wilbur Wright essayed
new and daring method OF descent He
stopped the motor at height OF seventy
five feet and tried TO come to earth on
gradual descendfng glide. The calculations
were not Absolutely correct and the left
wing Of the aeroplane came in contact with
the ground. TINS tore the frame OF the
machine Mr.. Wright was not injured.
Mr.. Wright said ne did not regard the
accident as serious and explained that
these were only incidental experiences de-
voted TO acquiring complete mastery Of the
difficulties OF aviation and the execution
OF new maneuvers.
Mr.. Wright's first flight this morning
eclpsed all his former efforts. He made
seven complete tours OF the field over the
tops Of the trees. According 10 the official
time he was in the air eight minutes and
fifty-three seconds. The aeroplanist was
incommoded by a fifteen-mile breeze. but
in spite OF this he showed greater facility
in maneuveTing than he did when there
was a dead calm. His landing was easy
and successful in every way.
second Flight Mover one.
Mr.. wrights second flight which lasted
two minutes, was novel one. The aero
pianist SCARED and descended at will, exc
cutting bewildering tBrns- Suddenly, as ap-
preaching the grandstsnd. the machine lost
its speed and began -curving slowly toward
the earth. AL appeared to be going well
until It was tilted 10 leeward and the deli
cate framework struck the ground, with
a.
Mr.. Wright calmly stepped out and ex-
anlined the wreck. He was quickly sur
rounded by anxious friends. 10 whom he
explained THAI there had been no accident
in the air, but that he had merely de-
cided to try a new descent. He shut off
the motor at height Of seventy-five feet
and endezvored to float downward. The
real cause OF the accident was the attempt
TO land exactly on the spot Of his de-
parture. In listing the planes at the las,
moment in an attempt TO continue the slid
ing progress he pulled the left plane too
sharply.
The damage can be repaired easily. al
though. because OF the absence OF the nee
essary material, the work will require sew
erRl days.
Among the spectators today were Miss
/ Morgan. daughter Of J. p Morgan: n
/ Kapserer. the engineer OF the French d.
/ rigible balloon Vile De Paris. and other
! French enthusiasts.
Zeppelin GrntIned at Results.
FRIEDERICSHAFEN. Aug. B-Couu,
/ Zeppelin made the following statement to-
] day TO the Associated Press:
I am heartily gratined at the success
obtained by Wilbur Wright al Lemans
the more so because I have always con.
sidered the efforts Of Americans as greatly
advancing the final solution Of the aerial
problem. This was so even during the
period when others said aerial navigation
was all humbug. ! cannot see however
l that Mr. Wright's success will minimizs
[ the utility OF my airships. While
/ readily admit that the thickness OF q
I balloon always must be reckoned with. ye
I the motor balloon as a means Of convey
! ance certainly is superior 20 the aeroplane
The asroplSne requires great dexteri;y snS
long practice for successful fight. Will,
anyone can travel on an sirship / do no
mention the inability Of the aeroplane {,
ascend 20 any great altitude for its Hmitet
1 scope Of action. because improvements Il
these respects arc only a question Of time
But let Us say. for instance. that in tim,
Of war an sirship and an asrOplane Wer
reconnoitering the position OF the enemy
The results obtained By the aerOplanlst
with the present apparatus would Of neees
sity be unsatisfactory. because It is neces
saTy for the single person on the AerOplan
20 give his entire attention 10 the man
agsment Of the machine. THIS work re
quires great concentration. and leave
] fr..,tt,-,,.s -, e...s 49,,