- ACCIDENT DETAILS
Date: September 03, 1925
Time: 0530
Location: Caldwell, Ohio
Operator: Military - U.S. Navy
Flight #: ?
Route: Lakehurst, NJ - S.t Louis, MO
AC Type: Dirigible ZR-1 Shenandoah (airship)
Registration: ZR-1
cn / ln: ?
Aboard: 43   (passengers:0  crew:43)
Fatalities: 14   (passengers:0  crew:14)
Ground: 0
Summary: The Shenandoah was flying over Southern Ohio when she abruptly encountered violent atmospheric conditions (thunderstorms). Powerful air currents buffeted her so severely that her crew was unable to maintain control. Rising rapidly above her pressure height, then falling and rising again, her hull structure was overstressed amidships, breaking the airship in two. Shenandoah's external control car and two engine cars fell free, carrying the dirigible's commanding officer and several other men to their deaths. The stern section came down nearby, while several men were able to fly the bow section to ground as a free balloon. The airship was the first one inflated with helium instead of hydrogen, which may have saved lives since it did not explode when it came apart. The airship was the first one inflated with helium instead of hydrogen, which may have saved lives since it did not explode when it came apart.
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