Gas balloon George Higgins No.2 crash, Aug 8, 1891 (1 killed)
Gas balloon George Higgins No.2 accident on August 8, 1891 near Clarence Gardens, Kirkstall, Leeds, United Kingdom with 1 fatality. Cause: Gas envelope...
- Date: August 8, 1891
- Aircraft: Gas balloon George Higgins No.2
- Location: Clarence Gardens, Kirkstall, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Gas envelope torn by a gust before takeoff, followed by contact with telegraph wires during the ascent.
A gust tore a hole in the gas balloon just before it left the ground at a Kirkstall balloon display. The aeronaut George Higgins asked for the ropes to be released, and his legs struck telegraph wires. He fell about 35 feet onto a wall, suffered a broken back and died of his injuries.