Almost 5 years after the historic birth of controlled flight at Kitty Hawk, an updated version of the Wright Flyer was involved in the first fatal aircraft mishap in powered flight.
In late 1907, the U.S. Army Signal Corps published a solicitation for aircraft acquisition. The Wright Brothers' flying machine was one of three bids accepted. On 17 September 1908, Orville was pilot-in-command of the first fatal aircraft mishap.
Twenty-six year old 1st Lieutenant Thomas E. Selfridge was Orville's passenger on 17 September. Sadly, he became the first casualty of heavier-than-air aviation.
Upon investigation, the right propeller cracking along its entire length caused an imbalance and loss of thrust from one side of the aircraft. Lt Selfridge passed away the evening of the mishap from a suspected head injury.
Lt Thomas Selfridge was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
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