ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 211887
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| Date: | 11-MAR-1927 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Spencer spherical balloon 'Miramar' |
| Owner/operator: | C G Spencer & Sons Ltd |
| Registration: | G-FAAD |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, Middlesex -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Parachuting |
| Departure airport: | Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, Middlesex |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Spencer Spherical balloon 'Miramar': Involved in a fatal accident 11/3/1927 when the parachutist was electrocuted while landing on power lines, Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware, Middlesex. the parachutist involved - LAC Ernest Arthur Dobbs AFM (aged 26) - was killed. According to a contemporary report in "Flight" magazine (March 17, 1927 page 164 - see link #2)
"THE NEW SPORT:
The first experiments at Stag Lane with " balloon-jumping '' unfortunately ended in disaster, Aircraftsman Dobbs being drifted by the wind against an electric cable and electrocuted. The mishap was not of course, directly due to the nature of the new sport, and was a regrettable accident of a kind never likely to happen again.
It would seem, however, that before the sport can become popular, it will be necessary to ensure a closer and more rigid connection between the man and the balloon, so that when a jump is made the balloon is given an initial upward push, instead of, as at present, merely being relieved of the man's weight.
The balloon, on this occasion, was insufficiently buoyant. The "paddles" were intended to give a certain amount of manoeuvrability, but as might have been expected, were a failure."
Sources:
1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1929.htm
2. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1927/1927%20-%200184.html?search=Ernest%20Arthur%20Dobbs
3. http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/pdfs/lighterthanairregister.pdf
4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_G-F.html
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stag_Lane_Aerodrome
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 05-Jun-2018 18:54 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 05-Jun-2018 18:58 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Registration, Operator, Total occupants, Source] |
| 21-Mar-2022 05:27 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator] |
| 06-Sep-2022 21:24 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Source, Narrative, Category] |
| 06-Sep-2022 21:26 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Narrative] |
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