Not either of those.
1. A prototype designed to replace a more familiar aircraft by doing it cheaper, faster, further.
2. This plane had half the number of engines that the plane it was to replace had.
3.The plane did in fact meet some of its design goals setting some cross country speed records.
4. The record setting pilot died in another unconventional prototype airplane crash.
5. Crew communications was an issue on the first flight resulting in a redesign of the cockpit before the second flight.