Johannisthal air disaster

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Johannisthal air disaster

Painting of LZ18 descending in flames after the engine fire.
Accident
Date	17 October 1913
Summary	In-flight explosion
Site	near Johannisthal Air Field
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Airship
Aircraft name	LZ18 (manufacturer's designation)
Operator	Imperial German Navy
Registration	L 2 (military designation)
Crew	28
Fatalities	28
Survivors	0

The Johannisthal air disaster involved the Imperial German Navy's L 2 airship manufactured by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin as LZ 18. Its test flight resulted in the death of all 28 passengers and crew on board. On 17 October 1913, at approximately 10:30 am local time, hydrogen gas which was being vented was sucked into the forward engine and ignited causing the airship to explode and burn. It crashed near Johannisthal Air Field about 16 kilometres (10 mi) southeast of Berlin. The accident occurred a little over a month after the Helgoland Island Air Disaster.