Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions
Franz Reichelt (d. 1912), often referred to as the “Flying Tailor,” was an Austrian-born French inventor whose work is frequently cited as one of the most tragic examples of innovation gone wrong. Reichelt focused on developing a wearable parachute suit intended to save pilots during aircraft emergencies, at a time when aviation safety and testing standards were still in their infancy.
His invention took the form of a heavy, coat-like garment designed to unfold into a parachute during freefall. Reichelt believed this approach would allow pilots to escape failing aircraft without the need for bulky, separate parachute systems. While the concept was ambitious, it had not yet been validated through successful live testing.
On February 4, 1912, Reichelt conducted a public test from the Eiffel Tower after receiving official permission from authorities. Although many spectators assumed the test would involve a mannequin, Reichelt chose to jump himself. The parachute failed to deploy correctly, and he died on impact. The event was captured on film, making it one of the earliest documented fatal accidents involving experimental personal flight equipment.
Reichelt’s story highlights the risks faced by early inventors working without modern simulation tools, certification frameworks, or structured safety validation processes. It remains a cautionary example of why incremental testing, independent review, and controlled environments are essential—especially when developing safety-critical systems.
For additional historical examples, please visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_inventors_killed_by_their_own_inventions