The Helgoland Island air disaster occurred on 9 September 1913 after the airship Zeppelin LZ 14 had been transferred to the Imperial German Navy on 7 October 1912. As the first airship owned by the Navy, it was given the serial number L-1. Ordered to participate in manoeuvers, it departed the mainland in bad weather. With 20 people on board, L-1 flew into a gale, and, while 18 miles from its destination, the cold rain caused its gas to contract, causing it to settle 32 km; 17 nmi (20 mi) north of Heligoland into the North Sea, breaking in two. The control car sank, drowning 13 of its occupants. Seven were rescued by motor torpedo boats.[1] [2] [3]

Helgoland Island air disaster

Accident
Date	9 September 1913
Summary	Weather
Site	North Sea, off Heligoland
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Airship
Aircraft name	LZ14 (manufacturer's designation)
Operator	Imperial German Navy
Registration	L 1 (military designation)
Crew	20
Fatalities	14
Survivors	6

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:LZ 14 / L 1.

• List of Zeppelins

References

• "Airship Loss Fails to Daunt Germans". The New York Times. New York, NY: Adolph Ochs. September 10, 1913. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 164552. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
• "German Airship Lost with 15 Men". The New York Times. New York, NY: Adolph Ochs. September 14, 1913. ISSN 1553-8095. OCLC 164552. Retrieved June 26, 2020.