Challenges Faced by Amelia Earhart: Obstacles and Turning Points

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: October 10, 2025

A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Amelia Earhart's life and career.

Amelia Earhart was a groundbreaking American aviation pioneer who vanished over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. She was the first woman to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean and established numerous other aviation records. Beyond her flying achievements, Earhart championed commercial air travel, authored best-selling books detailing her experiences, and played a key role in establishing the Ninety-Nines, an organization for female pilots. Her life and disappearance have made her a lasting cultural icon, symbolizing adventure and women's empowerment.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1914: Financial Difficulties and Loss of Inheritance

In 1914, Edwin Earhart was forced to retire due to alcoholism, and Amelia's grandmother, Amelia Otis, passed away, leaving a substantial estate in a trust for her daughter to protect it from Edwin's drinking habits. The Otis house was auctioned along with its contents.

December 1918: Discharge from Hospital after Spanish Flu

In December 1918, Amelia Earhart was discharged from Spadina Military Hospital, about two months after contracting the 1918 Spanish flu and being hospitalized for pneumonia and maxillary sinusitis.

1924: Hospitalization for Sinus Operation and Other Ventures

In 1924, Amelia Earhart was hospitalized for another unsuccessful sinus operation due to her worsening sinus problem. During this time, she also tried setting up a photography company and other ventures.

May 20, 1932: Earhart's Solo Flight Attempt to Paris

On May 20, 1932, Amelia Earhart, at age 34, departed from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, in her Lockheed Vega 5B, aiming to fly solo to Paris. She carried a copy of the Telegraph-Journal to verify the flight's date. After contending with adverse conditions, she landed in a pasture near Derry, Northern Ireland, after a 14-hour and 56-minute flight.

November 1934: Fire at the Putnam Residence

In November 1934, while Amelia Earhart was away on a speaking tour, a fire occurred at the Putnam residence in Rye, destroying many family treasures and personal mementos. Following the fire, the couple decided to move to the west coast.

1934: Refusal to Participate in Bendix Trophy Race

In 1934, after the Bendix Trophy Race banned women from competing, Amelia Earhart refused to fly screen actor Mary Pickford to Cleveland to open the race.

1935: Participation in the Bendix Trophy Air Race

In 1935, Amelia Earhart participated in the Bendix Trophy long-distance air race, finishing fifth due to her Lockheed Vega being slower than the purpose-built aircraft. The race was marred by the death of a competitor and challenging weather conditions.

March 17, 1937: First Attempt to Circumnavigate the World Abandoned After Crash

On March 17, 1937, Amelia Earhart and her crew set out on the first leg of her round-the-world flight. A non-fatal crash damaged the aircraft during takeoff from Luke Field in Pearl Harbor, leading to the abandonment of this attempt.

July 2, 1937: Disappearance over the Pacific Ocean

On July 2, 1937, Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. This event marked the beginning of the mystery surrounding her fate.

July 6, 1937: Reported Emergency Transmissions

On the morning of July 6, 1937, an Oakland radio amateur was reported to have heard emergency transmissions, seemingly from Amelia Earhart.

July 1937: Private Search Financed by Putnam

In late July 1937, after the end of the official search, George Putnam financed a private search of nearby Pacific islands and waters for Amelia Earhart, directed from the United States.

July 19, 1937: Official Search Efforts End

Official search efforts for Amelia Earhart, Noonan, and the Electra 10E ended on July 19, 1937, after an extensive and costly air-and-sea search by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, that cost $4 million, but no physical evidence was found.

1937: Attempt to Circumnavigate the Globe and Disappearance

In 1937, Amelia Earhart, accompanied by her navigator Fred Noonan, disappeared near Howland Island in the central Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first woman to complete a circumnavigational flight of the globe. They were flying a Lockheed Model 10-E Electra airplane, and were last seen in Lae, New Guinea.