Smoke balloon (Capt. Alfred Orton) crash, Aug 5, 1895 (1 killed)
Smoke balloon (Capt. Alfred Orton) accident on August 5, 1895 near Fletton Recreation Grounds, Peterborough, England, United Kingdom with 1 fatality....
- Date: August 5, 1895
- Aircraft: Smoke balloon (Capt. Alfred Orton)
- Location: Fletton Recreation Grounds, Peterborough, England, United Kingdom
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: The balloon failed to clear trees and telephone wires on ascent, and a wire fouled the parachute.
At a fete in Peterborough, Annie Adelaide Bassett was to make a parachute descent from the balloon of Captain Alfred Orton. The balloon failed to clear trees and telephone wires, a wire caught her parachute, and she jumped from about 60 feet and was killed. The inquest returned a verdict of accidental death.