New-York tribune., 1912-06-12
Lieutenant HazeIhurst and al"
Welsh Lose Their Lives in
Climbing Test at COL
Iege Park Field.
MACHINE PLUNGES 80 FEET
officers Neck Broken and Head
of Wright Filler Crushed Under
Wreckage-Thrown from
Seats When Support
ing Wires Snapped.
From The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington, June IL. - Lieutenant
Leighton W. Hazelhurst, jr.. a member
of the army aviation squad, and "Al'
Welsh, a professional aviator were in
stantly killed at the army aviation field
at College Park. Md, shortly after 6
o'clock this evening while testing new
Wright biplane. Although they dropped
only thirty feet, Welsh's skull was
crushed and Lieutenant Hazelhurst's
neck was broken.
The fatal fight was made as test
required by the War Department that
the machine, with 450 pounds on board
besides the gasolene, oil and water,
climb two thousand feet in ten minutes
Welsh operated the machine and Hazel
hurst was q passenger to give the ad-
ditional weight
They climbed rapidly in making the
first circle of the field, but when at the
north end making turn tho biplane
suddenly lunged forward and downward,
crashing to the earth. Captain Charles
De Forest Chandler, commanding the
army aviation school. Captain Paul
Beck and the other officers observing
the tests ran to the place where the
machine u mass of crumpled wreckage,
lay. only TO find both men dead.
When found Welsh and Hazelhurst
were several feet from the machine, evi.
IDENTIFY having been thrown from their
seats as the biplane pitched TO the
ground. Welsh's head was crushed.
Hazelhurst, with his neck twisted TO the
right, seemed TO have died without d
struggle. The headgear which he wore
afforded 10 protection. Welsh wore no
headgear 1t is believed by the army
officers that had he done so he probably
would not have been killed.
The machine was badly smashed. 1t
is believed by the aviators that the sup
porting wires between the planes snapped
causing the machine to collapse anl
plunge downward.
The deaths of Welsh and HaZelhurst
are the first serious accidents that have
occurred at the Army Aviation School at
College Park. The death Of Lieutenant
Hazelhurst is the third among the
avitors of the United States army. Lieu
Never. Va, in September 1905, was the
first officer to lose his life in an aero
plane accident. Lieutenant John Kelley,
killed at San Antonio in March, 1911,
was the second.
HazeIhurst a New Pupil.
Lieutenant Hazelhurst was a new man
at the aviation school. He had just
learned TO fly one Of the Wright ma
chimes. and was considered one Of the
brightest of the pupils. He was native
of Georgia, and joined the aviation squad
in March, coming from the 18th In
fantry.
Ar Welsh was considered the most
expert flyer of the Wright company
since the death of phil" Parmalee, a
short time ago. Hearing of the death
Of Parmalee Welsh said: Poor Phil
lie was one OF the best ones. l hope |
won't 20 the same way" Welsh was
an instructor at the Wright school.
An investigation into the death of the
two men will be conducted at College
Park tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
by board of officers, consisting Of Cap
tain Frederick Hennessy, Captain Paul
Beck, Lieutenant Roy G. Kirkland, Lieu
tenant Thomas De Witt Milling and
Lieutenant Henry II. Arnold.
The bodies are being held at the
Walter Reed General Hospital until the
examination has been completed. Hazel
bursts body will be sent 10 his old home
In Macon, Ga Welshs body will be sent
r. New York Thursday.
Tired Of Fooline," He Said.
For several days Welch had been busy
demonstrating the machine lie knew
1t was capable OF meeting the test, which
had beer accomplished at Dayton. Ohio,
by Orville Wright before the biplane
was taken to college Park, and he had
been made impatient by several failures.
I'm going to make that climb tonight
or know the reason why" ne said, as he
began to tune up. 81 am tired fooIing''
he added
Many new features were EMBODIED -
the machine, evolved as result OF or-
Vile Wright's experiments at hill DcFi
Hill. y. G., last summer. The Wright
DIDtnelS always bullI 'pIhb''''
slow craft. but the government required
that the new machine make forty-nVe
miles an hour in speed trials scVcral
days ago JO.S miles was attained. l.
was estimated that it was making about
forty-fve miles an hour when the fataI
plunge came.
The wings OF the craft were Of aluin'-
num- instead Of canvas. but In appear
snce it was much like the earlier ma
chimes. IL w.s narrower by one foot,
but with a vertical rudder little larger
The six-cylinder engine was of hity
horsepower instead Of thirty. The opin-
ion was expressed tonight that the en-
I.ne was in nowise responsible for ihe
disaster
Lieutenant Hazelhurst, though his
parents reside IN Macon. Ga, was APP
pointed 10 West Point from Mississippi
graduating and being Commissioned Il
second lieutenant in 1908 A vile ana
a daughter three years old survive
Welcb
This is the third double fatality among
9yiators this month. Albert Buchstactter
aud Lieutenant title were killed at
Bremen on SUNDAY, June =. Last sun
day lime o <inperIlng and ToDnct lost
their lives al Mourmelon. fcsicIu"h
catasfrophe brings the total ~ deaths
since heavier than-uir hyihs 7eb"' 'p