Wire: Replica of Wright Brothers Plane Crashes at Wright-Patterson

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 -- Newswire services this morning reported that officials say a replica of the Wright brothers' plane has crashed in Ohio, sending the pilot to the hospital and heavily damaging the aircraft.

The Associated Press reported that Julia Frasure of the National Park Service says Mark Dusenberry was piloting his replica of the 1905 Wright Brothers Flyer III Thursday when it crashed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton.

Dusenberry was transported by helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital. His condition was not immediately available.

Amanda Wright Lane, great grandniece of Wilbur and Orville Wright, says Dusenberry was practicing for a flight Monday to mark the 104th anniversary of practical flight, when the brothers proved they could take off, control the plane and safely land.

The replica flyer is fragile, made primarily of wood and fabric.

(Report from newswire sources.)