Boston, Massachusetts – October 11, 1929
On the morning of October 11, 1929, an 18-year-old student pilot from Brookline, Massachusetts, was taking off from the East Boston Airport in a DeHavilland Gipsy Moth aircraft, (Reg. no. NC-9733). When the aircraft reached an altitude of 60 feet exhaust valve seat suddenly failed causing a thumping of the engine to occur. The pilot turned to make an emergency landing and flew level, keeping the nose up while cutting the fuel switch. The aircraft made a hard landing damaging the lower wings, landing gear and fuselage beyond repair. The pilot was not injured.
Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Aircraft Accident Report dated October 11, 1929, (Massachusetts Air And Space Museum)
