Charles A. Lindbergh's first "Accident"

    Lindbergh had just soloed and was making his first cross country flight. Charles left Americus and flew to Montgomery Alabama and passed through fairly bad territory and landed at an old army field. He arrived in Montgomery after gasing at the old army field and was flying toward Meridian, Mississippi. He arrived over Meridian and was faced with landing in a suitable field as there was no airport. The year was 1923 and not many towns and cities had an available to land in. So, he was looking for a field with no rocks,ditches and generally a flat place to land. He found a field and after gasing up left Meridian and flew west towards Texas.

   Charles was ignoring the following of a road or railroad and was flying by (the seat of his pants).  Charles had a compass, but unfortunately, it was in his bag, out of reach; he had failed to install it. So, he had a big map of the U.S.A. with little states. He was lost and not knowing where he was. Fortunately, he spotted a rail intersection.  So he got his bearings. Charles would need gas and was looking for a field to land and locate his position. He finally, after 30 minutes of flying, found a field. Charles circled over a few times, finding the field flat (mostly) and no rocks or ditches that he could see. He finally landed. A storm was fast approaching at this moment, so he taxied for the nearest fence corner to tie the plane down. He spotted a ditch at a reasonably high speed, but it was too late! There was a splintering of wood in rapid succession, and the tail rose out of the ditch. The propeller came in contact with the ground and splintered.

  The usual crowd gathered as the plane had alerted them. The crowd informed Charles that he was halfway between Maben and Mathiston, Mississippi. He flew a hundred and twenty miles North instead of West.

   The farmers pushed the plane out of the ditch. Charles arranged for a new propellor to be delivered. The townspeople helped install the prop; evidently, it was a bear to put on. His plane was put together and ready to fly!

Ric