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| Date: | Sunday 12 December 1909 |
| Time: | |
| Type: | Blériot XI |
| Owner/operator: | private |
| Registration: | |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Constantinopel,Istanbul -
 Türkiye
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Demo/Airshow/Display |
| Departure airport: | Constantinopel,Taksim |
| Constantinopel,Taksim | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
At a height of 40 meters, the aircraft was suddenly caught by a gust of wind. It hit a house and two trees and crashed into a garden, Pilot Louis Bleriot badly injured.
"Had Blériot a more exact knowledge of the area, he could perhaps have avoided the obstacles that he encountered along his way. But he didn’t have such knowledge. He had but twice glanced around this side of town without having been able, doubtlessly, to implant in his mind the complete topography of the hilly terrain that he would cross, almost totally covered with rather high houses. Furthermore, he was not able to gain enough elevation in the short space of the three kilometers flown, and his altitude, which was not more than twenty meters, could not be maintained while going over a hill. And, after haling crossed the valley of Bülbüldere, he had one before him that he had to cross being surrounded by houses on the right and left. Thus, he headed straight on. This hill was also crowned with houses, but he hoped to be able to ascend sufficiendy to pass over them. He uied his best to do so ... Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough distance in front of him to execute this maneuver and when he reached one of the houses, the plane hit the roof. He couldn’t clear it. Stopped in flight, the plane bounced off and fell into the garden a few meters from the house. It fell, fortunately, on the garden fence, which broke the fall.
A. Part of the roof where the plane struck, damaging it.
B. Corner also hit by the plane and slightly damaged.
C. Balcony filled with people who quickly retreated when the plane hit.
D. Point where the plane fell, damaging the fence.
Blériot didn’t leave his seat. Being attached to the wings of the plane, he was bruised slighdy on the right hand. And the shock, even diough broken as we just mentioned, was nevertheless so severe that his whole body was violently shaken. He had no apparent injuries, but did have sharp internal pains.
Blériot got out of the wreckage on his own and was pleased to find himself on his feet in one piece. Several young men directed him to the Greek gymnastic club, Hercules, where he was able to lie down. He went on foot accompanied by the young men. Drs. Gurdjidès, Macridès, Tiverios, Erlanger and Photiadès were on hand and they examined him right away. They determined that he had a contusion of the kidneys and another of the hand."
Sources:
Contemporary reportage in Yeni Tesvir-i Efkâr [Ottoman newspaper], "The Subject of Flying Machines," Nr. 126, 4 October, 1909ff. Quoted in "The Dawn of Aviation in the Middle East: the First Flying Machines over Istanbul," by Gary Leiser. Article in "Belleten" (journal of the Turkish Historical Organization), ISSN: 0041-4255; e-ISSN: 2791-6472. Edition: Aralik [December] 2005, Volume 69, p. 256. https://belleten.gov.tr/eng/full-text-pdf/3482/eng ; PDF version pp. 1011-1012.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Mar-2008 22:01 | Bleiente | Added |
| 20-Mar-2020 20:29 | Cobar | Updated [Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 08-May-2025 16:32 | tombrosnahan | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
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