Helgoland Island air disaster

Helgoland Island air disaster
Accident summary
Date September 9, 1913
Summary Weather
Site North Sea, off Heligoland
Crew 20
Fatalities 14
Survivors 6
Aircraft type Airship
Aircraft name LZ14 (manufacturer's designation)
Operator Imperial German Navy
Registration L 1 (military designation)

The Helgoland Island air disaster occurred on 9 September 1913 after the airship Zeppelin LZ 14 had been transferred to the Imperial German Navy on 7 October 1912. As the first airship owned by the Navy, it was given the serial number L-1. Ordered to participate in manoeuvers, it departed the mainland in bad weather. With 20 people on board, L-1 flew into a gale, and, while 18 miles from its destination, the cold rain caused its gas to contract, causing it to settle 32 km; 17 nmi (20 mi) north of Heligoland into the North Sea, breaking in two. The control car sank, drowning 13 of its occupants. Seven were rescued by motor torpedo boats.[1][2]

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.