The Helgoland Island air disaster occurred on 9 September 1913 after the airship Zeppelin LZ 14 had been transferred to the Imperial German Navy on 7 October 1912.

As the first airship owned by the Navy, it was given the serial number L-1.

Ordered to participate in manoeuvers, it departed the mainland in bad weather.

With 20 people on board, L-1 flew into a gale, and, while 18 miles from its destination, the cold rain caused its gas to contract, causing it to settle 20 mi (32 km; 17 nmi) north of Helgoland into the North Sea, breaking in two.

The control car sank, drowning 13 of its occupants.