Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-13
AEROPLANE ACCIDENTS
ARE NOT UNAVOIDABLE
Claude Grahame-White Dis
cusses Mishaps and How
to Prevent Them.

Claude GrahameWhite, the aviator, in
NJ. A. p. or London, says:
Il have been asked to say something
on the causes tina, have led to the recent
aeroplane accidents in England and on
the continent, but / should like to point
out, first of all, that it is not a subject
to which one can do justice in a short
non-technical magazine article.
Briefly, the present position is this: In
the seven months of this year there has
been an average of one fatal aeroplane
accident in each month. In January, M.
Delagrange was killed at Bordeaux; in
April, NJ. LIE Blon at San Seba stian;- in
May. NJ. Michelin at Lyon; in June, M.
Zosily at Budapesth and Herr Robl at
Stettin, and in July, NJ Wachter at
Rheims and Mr. Rolls at Bournemouth.
Besides these deplorable accidents
keeping to aeroplanes only and leaving
out of count accidents to dirigible ball
loons-there have been during the last
few months many narrow escapes from
death Of aviators at the various flying"
meetings, notably the Baroness de La
roche, who was so terribly hurt at
Rheims, and Mr.. Rawlinson, who came
to grief in his aeroplane at Bournemouth.
A Terrible Prophecy.
'Deplorable as This record of disaster
undoubtedly is, one cannot help recalling
Capt. F'erbers terrible prophecy, made
at g. banquet given in his honor few
days before his tragic death: There will
be many deaths yet before aviation is a
practical success And those of us who
believe sincerely that great future lies
before the aeroplane can only so on try
ing and trying to get nearer the perfec-
ton that will make the aeroplane prac-
teal means of locomotiOn.
LAS to the most common cause OF aero
plane accidents, l believe that most of
them have been due wholly and solely to
a momentary carelessness on the part OF
the aviator, to a foolhardiness born Of
the sporting instinct to take risks that
were better left alone.
THE art OF steering an aeroplane is
not a thing that can be learned In a few
hours. In this, of course, it is not like
motoring. One may turn a novice loose
on motor car and he will come to COM
paratively little harm provided he does
not attempt to break speed records, but
to attempt to make an aeroplane ascent
without long and careful practice with
the machine is simply counting certain
disaster
This latter fact is so obvious that it is
fairly well recognized. though occasion
ally some too eager youngster gets into
dincultieS. What is only just beginning
to be forced upon our notice. however, is
the fact that, no matter how practiced an
aviator may be, he cannot afford to take
risks; that spectacular ascents and de-
scents, though highly creditable to the
pluck of the individual aviator, are
fraught with the greatest danger, and are
at all times to be discouraged.
An Error of Judgment.
Mr.. Rolls deplorable accident was the
result of an attempt to make his sudden
descent in face of head wind. 1 do not
think the resultant calamity was due to
any mechanical defect, but simply to an
error of Judgment on the part of the avi-
ator-an error that, though rash, must
certainly carry with 1t tribute to his
courage.
another fruitful source Of trouble is to be
found In the carelessnesS withwhich some
aviatOrs look after the small mechanical
details OF their aeroplanes. and I am quite
sure that the haphazard way in which
some aeroplanes are overhauled before
being taken ont is largely responsible for
the accidents that occur. While some ac-
cidents are, OF course. quite justly to be
attributed to mechanical defects. it can
not be- denied that these accidents could
almost invariably have been avoided il
the aeroplane had been properly exam
med. repaired and tested before the as
cent was made.
AS l have said. / firmly believe in the
future of the aeropane, and we have only
TO go on experimenting carefully for &C.
cldents to become things Of the past"