World War I plane flips while trying to land near museum in Massachusetts

A World War I-era plane flipped onto its roof while trying to land near a military history museum in Massachusetts this weekend, authorities said. The pilot was not injured.

The Nieuport 28, a single-engine fighter plane used during World War I, crashed Sunday at the end of the runway outside the American Heritage Museum, according to the Stow Fire Department. The museum is located about 30 miles west of Boston.

An initial investigation into the accident found that the plane’s front landing gear failed as its pilot, the sole occupant, attempted to land at the museum’s airfield shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday morning, Stow firefighters said in a message shared on Facebook. Their post included an image of the vintage plane flipped over with its wheels up in a grassy field.

The pilot had removed himself from the plane before authorities arrived on scene, the Stow Fire Department said. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the accident.

“The pilot reported no injuries but was evaluated on scene as a precaution,” the Facebook post said.

The American Heritage Museum hosted a “World War I and Aviation Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday. The series of events included flight demonstrations, historical displays and World War I re-enactments, according to an online newsletter linked to the museum’s website.

“Aircraft featured this weekend include the oldest flying American warplane, the 1918 World War I Nieuport 28 fighter, as well as three other historic and unique aircraft from World War II,” it reads in part. in the newsletter.