Pittsfield, Massachusetts – July 4, 1911
On July 4, 1911, aviator Charles C. Witmer was piloting a Curtiss biplane over Pittsfield when he encountered a sudden thunder and lightning storm that was producing severe winds. A sudden gust of wind caught his airplane and capsized it in mid-air while he was at an altitude of 400 feet. This caused Witmer to lose control, and the aircraft plunged to the ground. Witmer was taken to House of Mercy Hospital with internal injuries, but it was reported that he was expected to recover.
As a point of fact, Witmer did recover, and lived until 1929. To find out more about Charles Witmer, see http://earlyaviators.com/ewitmer.htm
Source:
Hartford Courant, (Conn.), “Biplane Capsized; Aviator Badly Hurt”, July 5, 1911