Stephenson MacGordon (February 29, 1892 – June 6, 1916) was a record-holding pioneer aviator who died in a crash in 1916.

Biography

He was born on February 29, 1892, in

Menominee, Michigan Menominee ( ) is a city and the county seat of Menominee County, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Upper Peninsula. The population was 8,488 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the county seat of Menominee County, Mi ...

, to Charles Hackley McGordon (1871–1921). He was an instructor at the Curtiss Flying School. He died on June 6, 1916, in

Newport News, Virginia Newport News () is an Independent city (United States), independent city in southeastern Virginia, United States. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 186,247. Located in the Hampton Roads region, it is the List of c ...

, when the tail of his plane lifted during landing. His propeller hit the

runway In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt concrete, asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (sod, ...

and a fire killed him. His student in the rear seat escaped with minor injuries.

References

1892 births 1916 deaths Accidental deaths in Virginia American aviators Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1916 {{Aviation-bio-stub