The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-29
Army Aviators Meet
Death at College
Park Field.
WRIGHT BIPLANE
SMASHED TO BITS
Lieutenant Louis c. Rockwell
and His Passenger, Corporal
Frank S. Scott, Are the Latest
to Yield Up Their Lives
in Conquest of
the Air.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]


Washiaston. September 2s.-Tws
army aviators, Loeut. I-ouis Z. Rock
well. u. 8. A., and Corporal Frank =
scott. Of the Signal Corps. were KILL
ed tits evening. when their Wright
bipIa,e crashed to Garth. Scott Wa
killed instantly. Lieutenant Rockwell
died m hour later Mt Waiter Reed Hos
pitsl.
The accident occurred about o'clock
at the army aviation camp at Coliegs
Park, suburb.
Engine trouble was the cause. Rock
well could not shut n his engine to
make a landing. The machine plung-
ed downward to the earth with crash.
They fell about 100 feet.
Corporal Scott was a passenger. fly
ing tandem. Lieutenant Rockwell Was
in charge-the crack aviator" OF the
army corps
Rockwell was rushed to Walter Reed
Hospital where he died at 7:os P. NJ.
without regaining consciousness. The
bone Of his left leg above the knee
protruded through the flesh. His right
leg was broken in two places.
Dies Instantly.
CORPORAL Scott died instantly. His
skull was crushed. his right arm broken
and his left leg badly smashed in two
places.
The biplane In which the two men
were flying was smashed to bits.
Rockwell was unmarried. His
mother resides at Cincinnati She was
advised Of the accident tonight by
Colonel Scriven. chief OF the
army aviators. The dead off1cer would
have been thirty-one years Of age
Monday.
A number Of flights was planned fes
the afternoon. Lieutenant Rockwell
climbed into his Wright machine and
made . short spin over the fell and
then came down. He decided to carry
q passenger with him on his next
flight. and Corporal Scott agreed to
20. They both climbed In. smiled Ut
the crowd and shot upward. After dy-
ing about Tor ten minutes At an ald-
tudea Of 100 feet. Lieutenant Rockwell
headed his machines nose downward
to the earth. When about thirty feet
from the ground he attempted to shut
on his motor. but for some reason 1t
xAuG0 u OlOP. AhO OAVAo"S NAoSA@S0
to the ground
More than 300 women and men Wit
messed the accident. A Eroan came
from the lips Of many when 1t was
seen the men would strike the ground
with violent force.
Leutnant Rockwell was considered
one OF the best aviators in the United
States Army. Although he Joined the
school but SIX months ago. he develop
ed quickly and was considered Q steady
man. It was only yesterday he flew
over the city. and gave = spectacular
flight for the benefit Of the delegates
to the International Congress OF Hy.
giene and DemoGFaphy.
Colonel 6criven was present when
the accident occurred.
NstAl.g wrs1G with Machine
Rockwell was just about finishing
his fnal test for . pilots license.
said Colonel Scriven- He was ac-
companied ON the trip in what 10
known ~ aeroplane No. BY Corporal
Scott. and - they were coming down
the angle was apparently too steep
for the engine to pick up the planes
in time to come down easily ana the
aeroplane landed head on instead OF
There was nothing
wrong with the machine. Apparently
the carrying OF two passengers n the
angle OF descent which was UNDER
taken was too acute. The Grade ae
which the machine descended may
have been all right had there been
only one passenger. but II was POSSIBLY
too steep Tor two.
~Lseusenant Rockwell, who WAS the
con Of an old officer OF the FIFTH Cav.
airy. was . splendid oimcer and hsd
been making great success In his aero
plane schooling. He vas very en-
thusiastic over flying and had shown
Judgment In the handling
of aerOplanes. The accident was one
Of those unexplainable things No
body knows exactly what caueed IT, e.
cent the men In the machine
Ccrporsl Scott was twenty mine years
81 aee-a veteran pioneer In army
aviation. He was one Of the firse men
To oe assigned TO the army, exper
menetsI station. He was unmarrteo.
uisussnsnt ROCKWELL vas the fourth
omcer OF the Cnitso
states Army 20 meet death in an ava
ron ACCIDENT The nrss va; nss"'es 2,
For, Myer. W.. several wears ago while
living with orviI!c wTight. Who bad
hts leg brokea In the fan. Tns SEC,
ond was UeutenanS Gecrge T. y
in May. 1911. Ths third vas LsH-
Win he clvSllae Instructor. 4 Z
WEIGH Was Aashel 20 sns grcvs4 -
Killed On tie 49, 9e3d 1t CotSeee
PSra. Ma, Whsrs so-1sy's dcubse ~
Tx TSs SsssS ton ssvsss through sses:
aenes 60 osrOp1auss q the Cnneo
etases Army now totals SIS
UuU0uo OOexp E0eA.
,. 49, sss. s $500 ss::s s.s:s
oSWy 07hOe. We 0ogsally sASUfed snis
Svew,a9 W1tSe Nyi1g n . Y6sDaa ~
piape wssA Me 1echanicseA. Perre
6ecaWe yaUGs1 ed the machine 10
SANITY SVePturne1 an1 fen ChovotSes
- ecrsOUUoy ~ ~ Oogeolly lnoUrN
ho0OUsal - - - heoUesa osvss0