Why Did The Hindenburg Crash

The Hindenburg disaster remains one of the most influential events in shaping the modern day industry. The LZ-129 Hindenburg, a passenger zeppelin (or more commonly referred to as a blimp), tragically crashed on Thursday, May 6, 1937, resulting in 36 casualties. In an instant the Hindenburg was engulfed in flames resulting in people’s lives, this disaster is still to this day one of the most influential events in aviation history.

The LZ-129 Hindenburg was a German passenger zeppelin manufactured by “Luftschiffbau Zeppelin G.m.b.H.” (Dan Grossman, "LZ-129 Hindenburg: A Detailed History")1, before the crash the Hindenburg had been in service from March 4, 1936 and had 62 successful flights. The Hindenburg was “245 meters in length, 41.2 meters in diameter and could reach a maximum speed of 135 km/h” (Dan Grossman, "Hindenburg Statistics")2. The Hindenburg “Was built with triangular duralumin grinders forming 15 large rings” (Dan Grossman, "Hindenburg Design and Technology")3, these rings are what made the frame of the ship. The Hindenburg was forced to use
On May 6, 1937 the LZ-129 Hindenburg caught fire and was engulfed in flames. “The result of the disaster killed 35 persons on the airship, and one member of the ground crew, but miraculously 62 of the 97 passengers and crew survived” (Dan Grossman, "The Hindenburg Disaster")7. It was also an issue inside as the tail of the Hindenburg was now engulfed in flames “The rapidly increasing angle of the ship caused passengers and crew to tumble against the walls, the furniture, and each other” (Dan Grossman, "The Hindenburg Disaster")7, the flames spread so quickly, it consumed the ship in less than a minute. “The fire quickly spread and soon engulfed the tail of the ship, but the ship remained level for a few more seconds before the tail began to sink and the nose pointed upward to the sky” (Dan Grossman, "The Hindenburg