The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Pilot in serious condition after Wright Flyer replica crash

Staff photo by Ron Alvey A Wright Flyer III replica crashed at Huffman Prairie, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Former Butler County girl on Sports Illustrated cover
Updated 14 min. ago
Weather prompts closings, postponements
2:32 p.m.
Psych evaluation ordered for teen accused of raping 64-year-old woman
2:26 p.m.
Road crews working to clear streets as more snow predicted
2:24 p.m.
Rape investigation stalls at Miami
1:51 p.m.
> More headlines

By Steve Bennish , Staff Writer Updated 5:29 PM Friday, October 2, 2009

DAYTON — The pilot injured when he crashed a replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III is in serious condition at Miami Valley Hospital’s intensive care unit, a hospital spokesman said Friday, Oct. 2. No further details were available.

Mark Dusenberry crashed Thursday morning during a practice flight in preparation for a re-enactment of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s historic demonstration of practical flight at Huffman Prairie.

The 48-year-old Dover resident had completed one practice flight and was on a second when the replica plane crashed, leaving the aircraft face-down in the middle of the field, its tail sticking up in the air.

Air Force spokesman Derek Kaufman said Dusenberry “was engaged in a second flight when he hit pretty hard.”

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

He was practicing for a reinactment for crying out loud. They were reinacting an event that took place on that spot.

Duane
9:34 PM, 10/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

"Tomcat" I believe you need to check your history a bit more, Sir. The Wrights did a lot of flying from the Huffman Prairie in the years following their powered December 1903 flights at Kitty Hawk. Mark Dusenbury is very knowlegeable as well as very experienced about his craft. Even in the best of situations, accidents can & did happen. Now we all hope for Marks's speedy and full recovery from his injuries, so he may FLY again!

Thomas D. Porter USAF 1969-73
4:43 PM, 10/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Best wishes for full and speedy recovery for Mr. Dusenberry. I look forward to seeing him and the 1905 flyer back in the air!

Fred
4:41 PM, 10/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

tomcat - The Wright Brothers crashed quite often, and in one incident, a passenger was killed and Orville seriously injured (he suffered severe back pain the rest of his life because of the crash).

bob
4:03 PM, 10/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

The Wright Brothers may have experienced the same fate had they chosen a field in Piqua, OH for their historic flight in 1905. Fortunately, the Brothers were smart enough to know they needed a locale with favorable air currents like those found in Kitty Hawk, NC. Too bad that Mark Dusenberry overlooked this key element otherwise his flight may have had a better ending.

tomcat
12:05 PM, 10/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There is 1 additional comment

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.