South African race-driver Johan Jacobs died in an attempt to break the world land speed record as his jet-powered dragster racer overturned at 300 mph.
The accident happened a day before the official record attempt, at a trial run. According to a South-African newspaper, the dragster started tilting sideways after about 700m, doing over 300 mph, before toppling over altogether, and vanishing in a cloud of dust and smoke.
Perhaps worst of all, the tragedy occurred in front of Jacobs' family, who had come out to look at the trial run.