Speed Record and Death
Bayles had failed to break the official 3 km World Landplane Speed Record at the 1931 National Air Races. Following the Thompson Trophy race, the Gee Bee Z was re-engined with a larger, 750-horsepower (560 kW) Wasp Senior radial, in preparation for an attempt at establishing another world speed record at Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan.
On December 1, 1931 Lowell Bayles attempted the speed record again and made four passes at an average of 281.75 miles per hour (453 km/h), but did not surpass the old record by the required 4.97 miles per hour (8 km/h).
On December 5, Bayles tried again, diving into the course from 1,000 feet (305 m) and leveling off at 150 feet (46 m) as rules allowed. Travelling over 300 miles per hour (483 km/h), 75 feet (23 m) from the ground, the Model Z suddenly pitched up, the right wing folded beyond the flying wire attachment point, most likely due to aileron flutter stressing the wing spar and causing it to fail. The plane crashed alongside of a railroad track in a huge ball of flame and smoke. Lowell Bayles body was thrown 300 feet (91 m) from the disintegrated plane.
Analysis of the crash, based on motion picture film of the event examined frame-by-frame, showed that the aircraft's fuel cap had come loose and crashed through the Gee Bee Z's windscreen. It struck the pilot and incapacitated him, causing a sudden upset in pitch that led to the structural failure of the wing. In addition, tests of a reproduction aircraft have shown that the Gee Bee Z was susceptible to aerodynamic flutter at high speed.
His fiancée, Gertrude St. Marie of Springfield, traveled to his hometown of Mason, Illinois for his funeral, along with Mrs. Zantford Granville.
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