The Wright Flyer, designed by aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright, was showcased in Fort Myer, Virginia, to demonstrate its flight capabilities to military officials and the public. On this day, Orville piloted the aircraft, flying with Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge as his passenger. The flight initially went well, highlighting the advances in aeronautics since the Wrights' earlier experiments. At approximately 150 feet in the air, disaster struck when a propeller blade fractured, sending the airplane spiraling toward the ground. Despite the Wrights’ meticulous engineering, the stresses of flight had taken a toll on the Flyer’s components.

The crash was sudden and devastating. Orville Wright survived the crash, sustaining injuries that would require hospitalization, but Selfridge suffered critical injuries. He was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries later that evening. This incident garnered significant attention, marking a grim milestone in aviation history as it claimed the life of the first person to die in an airplane crash, a precedent that would overshadow the early achievements of aviation for years to come. Investigations into the crash would lead to greater safety measures and improvements in aircraft design.

The event also highlighted the risks involved in pioneering aviation, emphasizing the need for further research and development to ensure safer flying conditions. The Wright brothers continued their work in aviation despite this incident, contributing to future safety standards in aircraft design.