Thomas Selfridge
Type: Person
As of November 2026, Thomas Selfridge has been mentioned in one podcast episode on American History Tellers (Jan 2025). His ride with Orville during Army trials ends in the fatal 1908 crash, a pivotal event affecting the Wrights’ reputation and the Army contract timeline.
Thomas Etholen Selfridge was an American first lieutenant in the U.S. Army and the first person to die in an airplane crash. He was also the first active-duty member of the U.S. military to die in a crash while on duty. He was killed while seated as a passenger in a Wright Flyer, on a demonstration flight piloted by Orville Wright.
| Mentioned in | 1 episode on 1 podcast (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| First heard | Jan 2025 on American History Tellers |
| Role | U.S. Army lieutenant; aviation experimenter |
| Affiliation | U.S. Army Signal Corps (review board); Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) |
Who talks about Thomas Selfridge on podcasts?
Thomas Selfridge came up; the most recent mention was Jan 2025 on American History Tellers.
What is Thomas Selfridge mentioned alongside?
Thomas Selfridge is most often mentioned alongside Orville Wright and Glenn Curtis.
Worked with: Orville Wright, Glenn Curtis