| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | September 9, 1913 |
| Type | Weather |
| Site | North Sea off Heligoland |
| Crew | 20 |
| Fatalities | 14 |
| Survivors | 6 |
| Aircraft type | Airship |
| Aircraft name | LZ14 (manufacturer designation) |
| Operator | Imperial German Navy |
| Tail number | L 1 |
The Helgoland Island Air Disaster occurred on September 9, 1913, and is traditionally considered the first air disaster involving more than ten fatalities. Manufactured by Zeppelin as the LZ 14, the airship was transfered to the Imperial German Navy on 7 October 1912. As the first airship owned by navy it was designated L-1. With 20 passengers and crew on board the L-1 flew into a strong storm, crashing 20 miles north of Heligoland Island into the North Sea. The ship broke in two and the control car immediately sank, drowning 14 of its occupants.
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