ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 193621
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| Date: | Monday 27 August 1888 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  Cosmo Gas Balloon |
| Owner/operator: | Joseph W Simmons |
| Registration: | Unregistered |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Wickham Bishops, 2 miles southeast of Witham, Essex -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Grounds of the Natural History Museum, Kensington, London |
| Wickham Bishop, Essex | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
On 27/8/1888 the Gas Balloon "Cosmo" hit an elm tree in high winds and crashed on landing, at Wickham Bishops, two miles south-east of Witham, Essex. Of the three persons on board, one, the pilot, Joseph W Simmons (aged 54) was killed (dying of his injuries - including a fractured skull -some hours later) and the two passengers, Mr.Field and Mr. Myers, was injured. The all-metal gondola, which was built for strength (but no resiliency), was thrown to the ground.
The plan had been for the balloon to fly from the Grounds of the Natural History Museum, Olympia, West Kensington, London to Brentwood, Ingatestone and Chelmsford, then cross the Channel to Flanders, and then on to Germany. 90 minutes after take off, the "Cosmo" Balloon drifted into trees when the grappling anchor failed to take hold of the ground. The three on board sustained their injuries when they were thrown to the ground from some 50 feet from the gondola of the balloon.
Sources:
1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm
2. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18881023.2.26
3. A Grim Almanac of Essex By Neil R. Storey
4. The Times (London) August 29, 1888 Page 4 at https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/33012211/
5. http://www.ballooninghistory.com/whoswho/who'swho-s1.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Feb-2017 20:46 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
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