Fatal Plane Crash: Oct 29, 1938

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Edith was determined to advance her piloting skills by learning how to "fly by instrument", instead of relying on the line-of-sight. Her Stinson Reliant was one of the most sophisticated planes available -- still, this was a era of no radar or advanced avionics.  On Oct 29, 1938, Edith was "flying blind", using only her instruments while routinely flying back to Cincinnati from a  Ninety-Niners meeting in Cleveland. Too late, Edith realized that she had flown 200 miles off course, and her attempts at an emergency landing failed.  She crashed  near Williamson, WV. 

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Edith Lackner was honored for her courage by many of her fellow aviators; they dropped flowers as they flew over her graveside services.