Wing failures thumb|Heinrich Gontermann's wrecked Dr.I 115/17 On 29 October 1917, Leutnant der Reserve Heinrich Gontermann, Staffelführer of Jasta 15, was performing aerobatics when his triplane broke up.Weyl 1965, p. 233. Gontermann was killed in the ensuing crash landing. Leutnant der Reserve Günther Pastor of Jasta 11 was killed two days later when his triplane broke up in level flight.Weyl 1965, p. 233. Inspection of the wrecked aircraft showed that the wings had been poorly constructed. Examination of other high-time triplanes confirmed these findings. On 2 November, Idflieg grounded all remaining triplanes pending an inquiry. Idflieg convened a Sturzkommission (crash commission) which concluded that poor construction and lack of waterproofing had allowed moisture to damage the wing structure.Weyl 1965, pp. 233–234. This caused the wing ribs to disintegrate and the ailerons to break away in flight.Weyl 1965, pp. 233–234.
Wing failures thumb|Heinrich Gontermann's wrecked Dr.I 115/17 On 29 October 1917, Leutnant der Reserve Heinrich Gontermann, Staffelführer of Jasta 15, was performing aerobatics when his triplane broke up.Weyl 1965, p. 233. Gontermann was killed in the ensuing crash landing. Leutnant der Reserve Günther Pastor of Jasta 11 was killed two days later when his triplane broke up in level flight.Weyl 1965, p. 233. Inspection of the wrecked aircraft showed that the wings had been poorly constructed. Examination of other high-time triplanes confirmed these findings. On 2 November, Idflieg grounded all remaining triplanes pending an inquiry. Idflieg convened a Sturzkommission (crash commission) which concluded that poor construction and lack of waterproofing had allowed moisture to damage the wing structure.Weyl 1965, pp. 233–234. This caused the wing ribs to disintegrate and the ailerons to break away in flight.Weyl 1965, pp. 233–234.