ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 193324
Last updated: 8 April 2021
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| Date: | 28-SEP-1879 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Pathfinder (Hydrogen Balloon) |
| Owner/operator: | John Wise |
| Registration: | Unregistered |
| C/n / msn: | 1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Aircraft missing |
| Location: | Lake Michigan, off Carlinville, Illinois -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | East St. Louis, Cahokia, Illinois |
| Lake Michigan, Illinois |
On September 28, 1879, aged 71, John Wise disappeared with a passenger (George Burr) on a trip in high speed winds from East St. Louis, Illinois over Lake Michigan. It is reported the Balloon was last seen over Carlinville, Illinois (at approximate co ordinates 42.07°N 87.93°W) or was seen 35 miles from Chicago drifting northeastward toward Lake Michigan at "Miller's Station".
No trace of Wise or the balloon "Pathfinder" have ever been found. The body of George Burr, the passenger, was found in Lake Michigan, and left little doubt as to the fate of John Wise. This incident may have been the first ever fatal aviation accident within the continental United States.
Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wise_(balloonist)#Disappearance
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missing_aircraft
3. http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/wise.html
4. http://www.blimpinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/John-Wise-Balloonist.pdf
5. https://www.grandhaventribune.com/News/2014/10/13/Did-missing-airship-meet-its-fate-near-Grand-Haven
6. http://ny-ontariocounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2249/Balloon-article-Apr-25-2013?bidId=
7. https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/john-wise-aeronaut
Media:
John Wise starting the first airmail delivery in the US, 17 August 1859
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Feb-2017 15:11 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
| 15-Nov-2018 17:54 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Source, Embed code] |
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