Accident Wanderer Gas Balloon Unregistered,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 221788
 
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Date:Thursday 10 December 1891
Time:day
Type:Silhouette image of generic BALL model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Wanderer Gas Balloon
Owner/operator:Lt Edward Mansfield
Registration: Unregistered
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Victoria Park, Bombay -   India
Phase: Initial climb
Nature:Demo/Airshow/Display
Departure airport:Victoria Park, Bombay
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
10.12.1891: Gas balloon "Wanderer", Edward Mansfield. Written off (destroyed) when Balloon burst on ascent, Victoria Park, Bombay, India. Pilot - Lt Edward Mansfield (aged 26) killed. According to a contemporary newspaper report ("The Morning Post", London, Friday, December 11, 1891, Page 5, see link #2)

"BOMBAY, Dec. 10.
Lieutenant Mansfield, of the Royal Naval Reserve, who on November 13 made a most successful ascent in his balloon 'Wanderer', descending by his parachute from an altitude of upwards of 11,000ft., met his death to-day under circumstances which have thrilled the entire city with horror. His recent descent attracted extraordinary interest here, partly on account of the remarkable success which attended it, and partly owing to the cool courage which Lieutenant Mansfield exhibited both in his preparations for his dangerous exploit and in the management of his parachute in the descent.

An immense crowd accordingly assembled to-day in the Victoria Gardens to see his second attempt, Lord Harris, the Governor, and all the principal civil and military authorities being present. The balloon having been filled with gas was held by a number of Bluejackets, who let go the ropes the moment that Lieutenant Mansfield, having taken his seat on the bar, gave the word. The balloon went up very rapidly. When it had reached a height of some 400ft. the balloon burst with a loud explosion, and began to fall with terrible velocity."

Sources:

1. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Accmisc.htm
2. The Morning Post, London, Friday, December 11, 1891, Page 5: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/409998274/

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
12-Feb-2019 18:31 Dr. John Smith Added

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