Thomas Selfridge

Lieutenant Thomas Etholen Selfridge (February 8, 1882 – September 17, 1908) was the first person to die in a powered aircraft crash.

Selfridge graduated from West Point in 1903. He was 31st in a class of 96; Douglas MacArthur was first. After receiving his commission, he was assigned to the Signal Corps Aeronautical Division at Fort Myer, Virginia. There he helped design the Army Dirigible Number One. He was also the United States government representative to the Aerial Experiment Association, which was chaired by Alexander Graham Bell. Selfridge designed Red Wing, the Aerial Experiment Association's first powered aircraft. Red Wing was destroyed in a crash on March 17, 1908 on its second flight.

When Orville Wright came to Fort Myer to demonstrate his aircraft for the Army, Selfridge arranged to fly along while Orville piloted the craft. During the flight, at an altitude of 150 feet the plane lost its propeller, which damaged the wing. Orville managed to bring the plane down to 75 feet, but then it dove into the ground. Selfridge died three hours later, while Orville Wright suffered severe injuries and was hospitalized for three months.

Thomas Selfridge was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Section 3, Lot 2158, Grid QR-13/14. Selfridge Field air base, located outside of Detroit, Michigan, is named for him.