The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-11-05
Biplane Carrying Lieuten-
ants Lahm and Humph-
reys Is Smashed.
END OF ONE PLANE
DRAGS THE GROUND
Blame Placed on Engine Trouble.
Pupils Are Attempting
Own Repairs.

The wonderful Wright biplane,
which the United States bought after
its record breaking performances at
Fort Myer for $4,000, was badly
damaged during an early morning
flight at College Park, and the work
of the school of applied aeronautics
will be postponed necessarily for
several days.
The right end of the lower main
plane, several of the wooden braces
at that end, running between the two
main planes, a half dozen guy wires,
and the right side of the structure
which runs from the main surfaces
to fhe elevating plane were all put
out of commission.
Entirely new braces for the ele-
vating plane, new right skid, and
new right wing tip will be needed.
The canvas on the lower right main
| plane also was torn and the frame
work for five or six feet viii have
to be recovered.
NEITHER INJURED.
Neither Lieutenant Lahm, who
was operating the biplane, nor Lieu
tenant Humphreys. his passenger,
was injured. although Lieutenant
Lahm has skinned nose, which
evidently was received by coming
into contact with one Of the guy
wires. The biplane was up only
five or six feet at the time Of the
accident or doubtless both It and
the officers would have suffered
more. An hour after the biplane
buried her nose in the earth Lieu
tenant Lahm had her hack In the
shed and was making repairs as
rapidly as possible.
Engine trouble caused the smash
up; engine trouble, the source OF
which hadn't been discovered this
afternoon. but which in all prob
ability will be traced 10 the feed
Start of Flight
The fight which ended so disastrously
began at 7:45lz. according to the watch
Of Lieut. B. D. FuIois. The biplane. un-
der the guidance OF Lieutenant Lahul,
circled the field smoothly. for there was
almost no wind. and no trouble was dis
eernible for the first eight minutes OF
the trip.
just about the time that Lieutenant
Iahm was rounding the turn at the
southeast corner OF the field. however.
the engine began 10 miss fire. II missed
/ consistently and steadily. and Lieuten-
ant Humphreys climbed back in his seaS
to cure the difficulty By the time the
/ biplane was up 20 the northeast corner,
ready to turn westward parallel With
the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. the engine had slowed down 50
much that the bipIane was hardly max
ing more than tWenty-fOuT or twenty
five miles an hour. according to the ex-
perts. The machine is designed to
stay in the air at anything over twenty
six. and not under that.
Wing Bumps.
/ lust as the turn was attempted the
left wing bumped tie ground lightly.
/ In a second that wing bounced into the
air and the right wing shot down ana
struck the earth With great force. The
right side of the structure which holds
the eIevating plane dug into the ground
! too and the machine stopped with a sud
denness that was siclSening, almost dl-
/ rectIy in front of the shed and about
200 Yards away.
! Before the few spectators present
! could get over TO It, both officers were
out uninjured and trying to md out
what was the matter. After ali the in
vestigation possible there. Lieutenant
| Lahm ordered the machine taken back
into the shed and started repairs be-
fore he started probing the engines
vitals.
Asked if he would send for Wilbur
| Wright, who is in New York. Mr.. Lahn
| said he didn't know why. IF We can't
repair this it was time we were learn
ms" he said.
Not Disturbed.
| Neither officer. appeared the least dis
turbed by the accident and were sorry
| only because 1t meant the interruption
OF the flights for several days. Although
no one would hazard an opinion. il Is
probaD4e that the machine cannot go
up again before Monday at the best.
While Lieutenant Lahm had not tele-
graphed TO Mr.. Wright. the aeronautic
critics believe thar he will come 10 Col
lege PARK when he hears about the
| trouble.
/ The biplane damaged this morning
was the one wish which Chevalier or.