PILOT STORIES:
Wright, Richard W.
| Air
Mail Service Began: |
March 13, 1920 |
| Air
Mail Service Ended: |
April 10, 1920 |
| Assignment: |
College Park, Maryland |
Richard W. Wright was killed on April 10, 1920, a passenger in a Curtiss R4 mail airplane being flown
by Mark C. Hogue to Washington, D.C. During the flight, the
engine threw a rod and caught fire. Wright crawled out onto
the airplanes' right wing to fight the fire with his hand
extinguisher.
While trying to fight the fire, and when the
airplane was at about 200 feet, Wright lost his hold and fell.
The aircraft smashed into a tree, throwing Hogue clear of
the burning wreckage. Hogue managed to make his way to Wright's
side, finding him still alive, having sustained broken arm,
thigh and hip bone. Unfortunately, Wright soon succumbed to
his internal injuries.
Read
a report of the fire and crash that killed Wright.
|
