For 50 years, those Shockers have assembled in October to commemorate the lives lost. Newspaper clippings, including The Sunflower, Wichita State News, and Midway, regarding the plane crash, the memorial, and follow-up stories on the victim’s families. [citation needed], Of the total of 40 on board, the death count at the scene was 29, which included 27 passengers, the captain, and flight attendant. Wichita State football is gone. Lewis takes a list with him onto the deck. “We Are Marshall.” Marshall football rebounded and has thrived. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. I noticed we were quite a bit below the top of the mountains. But according to the NTSB, the accident could have easily been prevented if … They were thrown with their seats. Lewis and teammate Glenn Kostal were placed in a miner’s shack so they could lay down. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,... "[7][8], The USU president, vice president, provost, athletic director, and athletic information officer were all unavailable in the immediate aftermath of the crash, leaving the game to be canceled by John S. Flannery, a USU Information Services employee. The starters generally flew on the gold plane, but Featherstone mistakenly still was assigned to the black plane for the trip. “He was a chick magnet. In clear and calm weather in Colorado at 1:14 p.m. MDT on Friday, October 2, 1970, a chartered Martin 4-0-4 airliner crashed into a mountain eight miles (13 km) west of Silver Plume. Fifty years ago today — Oct. 2, 1970 — I walked into the student newspaper office at Utah State University expecting to be given media credentials for the first college Greg Hansen: Remembering the Wichita State plane crash, 50 years later | Greg Hansen | tucson.com “Yesterday, you wrote an article on the Wichita State plane crash that killed 31 people. Wichita State wide receiver John Yeros was on the Black Plane. Another 14 were university staff members and football boosters. Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments. Read more ›. Only eight players and the co-pilot survived the crash. [17] Wichita State discontinued varsity football after the 1986 season.[18]. A likeness of the football helmet for the Wichita State Shockers, circa 1970, is draped by a cap as teammates, family members and friends visit the crash site near Loveland Pass on July 27, west of Silver Plume, Colo. Wreckage from the plane, which was one of two being used to take the Shockers to play a football game against Utah State University in Logan, Utah, is still scattered on the mountain top … Two of the initial 11 survivors later died of their injuries to bring the total dead to 31,[7] 14 of whom were Wichita State football players. So Lewis called his mother at work back in Duncan. [5] Wichita State University officials and family members of the survivors were flown to Denver on an aircraft made available by Robert Docking, the Governor of Kansas. They know that at some point, the memorials and memories will burn only in their souls. “All four of these guys were great young men,” Featherstone said. [7], About three months before the crash, Wichita State contracted Golden Eagle Aviation to supply a Douglas DC-6B, to fly the team to away games for the 1970 season. Dave Lewis dug up a small pine tree and replanted it in his Overland Park yard. Family and friends remember the 31 people with the Wichita State football team who died 50 years ago in a plane crash in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. “I could talk for hours about my memories,” Featherstone said. Some are in poor health. Both airplanes refueled at Denver’s Stapleton Airport. Each year on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial. Lewis’ seat belt was off. • Johnny Duren, wide receiver, John Marshall High School. “Donnie was the strongest guy I ever met,” Lewis said. When the aircrafts stopped for fueling in Denver, the players stretched their legs on the tarmac. Today, traces of the tragic plane crash still remain on the mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado. The remnants of that Wichita State team have spent half a century honoring the memory of those who died. A plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. A memorial service will be staged in Cessna Stadium, which has remained even though Wichita State dropped football in 1987. "[4] Although occupying the left seat, he was acting in the capacity of a First Officer because he did not have a type rating on the Martin 4-0-4. I knew almost every one of those killed. “Some of the greatest young men/athletes that ever came out of our state,” Featherstone said. [1][2][3][4] Operated by Golden Eagle Aviation, the twin-engined propliner carried 37 passengers and a crew of three; 29 were killed at the scene and two later died of their injuries while under medical care. “I look up there and think of them.”. On Friday October 2 in that year, at 1:14 p.m., a Martin 4-0-4 aircraft flown by Golden Eagle Aviation crashed into a mountain eight miles west of Silver Plume, Colorado. All of these people were changed forever, but we have stayed very close all these years.”. “But of course, nobody planned on COVID.”. Like everyone else, he was cut and burned. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,... Tramel: How 1970 Wichita State football plane crash survivors are making sure their teammates aren't forgotten, OU football: Sooners headed to Cotton Bowl to play Florida, Congress seals agreement on COVID relief, government funding. Detailed directions and photos can be found on Mountainouswords.com. “They got us off the plane and onto a bus and told us not to talk to anybody,” Yeros said. “Randy and I played football at Clinton High School. He was thrown onto a pile of mangled mess. [11] First to arrive at the crash scene were construction workers from the nearby Eisenhower Tunnel project and motorists on U.S. 6 (I-70). Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Less scenic, this route allowed more time to gain altitude for the climb over the Rocky Mountains. Wichita State players remember their 'second season' 50 years later (8:03) Wichita State was devastated by a tragic plane crash 50 years ago. Around 1 p.m., the chartered twin-engined propliner transporting the Wichita State University football team from Wichita, Kansas, crashed at the base of Mount Trelease, 8 … Lewis’ mother turned hysterical, crying and yelling. "[5], Wichita State and Utah State had played in five of the previous six seasons, but never met again in football. Site of 1970 Wichita State plane crash. Of the 40 on board, 31 died either in the crash or as a result of injuries sustained in it. “I honor their memory every day,” Lewis said. Many of the 1970 Shockers have traveled to the crash site over the years, making the difficult climb to shed tears, leave mementos, offer prayers. Duren told Featherstone there was an empty seat on the black plane. OCT 2 1970 OCT 4 1970 Surviving members of the Wichita State University football team arrive at Stapleton International Airport in Denver Saturday morning aboard a flight from Salt Lake City, Utah. Forty-four years ago, a plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed in Colorado. All 75 people aboard died. On Oct. 2, 1970, Wichita State lineman Mal Kimmel boarded a plane with his teammates for their game against Utah State. The hike along an unmarked (but easy to find) trail is about a mile and the area is still densely littered with twisted metal. He heard people moaning from inside the plane, but it was engulfed in flames. Wichita State Plane Wreck. Utah State's football team held a memorial service at the stadium where the game was to have been played and placed a wreath on the 50-yard line. At Wichita State, there's no longer a football team to honor those who died in the crash. The plane crashed into a mountainside in Colorado, killing 31 people on board. Some witnesses located on higher mountainside locations, such as Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet (3,655 m), reported seeing it flying below them. Not only were they just great young men, friendly to everyone, and amazing athletes, they also were too young to die while they had so much to offer.”. Nine people survived the crash. Significant factors were the overloaded condition of the aircraft, the virtual absence of flight planning for the chosen route of flight from Denver to Logan, a lack of understanding on the part of the crew of the performance capabilities and limitations of the aircraft, and the lack of operational management to monitor and appropriately control the actions of the flightcrew. The Wichita State plane crash is often forgotten and overshadowed because of a similar accident that happened just 43 days later. A plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. The 1970 Wichita State football plane crash was one of the worst in Colorado aviation history. Eventually, a movie was made. After takeoff in clear weather, the two aircraft took divergent paths away from Denver. On October 2, 1970, these were ferried from the Jack Richards Aircraft Company facilities in Oklahoma City to Wichita, instead of the DC-6. They noticed a phone. PHOTOS: 50 years after the Wichita State plane crash in 1970, remains still lie on the mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado. This is the story of the crash, and what happened after. 50 Years After the Wichita State Crash . [4][7], While the aircraft were refueled and serviced in Denver, First Officer Skipper purchased aeronautical sectional charts for the contemplated scenic route. Mary Lynne dropped out of college to help care for her siblings in Hesston. None may be as fascinating or sobering as the wreckage of the 1970 Wichita State University crash. “Guys we lost who didn’t get to live their lives. Crash. But Featherstone has a particular mission. That decision proved to be deadly when one plane went down, taking the lives of 32 people on board, including members of the Wichita State University football team, coaches and boosters. Friends and family members of the victims of the plane crash that killed most of the Wichita State football team go over the crash site last July. Featherstone, a retired Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent, was Lewis’ teammate with those 1970 Wheatshockers. Some have died. Let’s just try it,” Lewis said. As Wichita State sophomores, both had made the starting lineup the week of the Utah State game. But in this part of the country, those of us alive at the time well remember the somber news from Oct. 2, 1970. The memories of the 31 people who died in a plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970 — including 14 members of the football team, 14 staff and boosters, and three crew members — are honored every year at Wichita State’s Memorial ’70 observance, but survivors, friends and family choose to remember their loved ones by hiking up to the crash site located on a mountain west of Silver Plume, Colorado. Lewis was on the gold plane. Every year on October 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial.[5]. I don’t want ‘em to be forgotten.”. Forty-three days after the Wichita State plane crash, the Marshall University football team plane crashed, returning from a game at East Carolina. [7] During the flight to Denver he visited passengers in the cabin, advising them that after refueling they would take a scenic route, near Loveland Ski Area and Mount Sniktau, the proposed alpine skiing venues for the 1976 Winter Olympics, recently awarded to Denver in May. [14], 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team, Mondout, Patrick (2005), Air Crash In Rockies Kills Wichita State Football Players, Super70s.com, Retrieved 2009-09-10, NTSB Aircraft Accident Report, SA-421, File No. Survivors, friends and family will convene at the Wichita Country Club to console and reminisce about the lives lost. A reception will be held on the stadium concourse, then later in the day are planned screenings of short documentaries filmed about the crash. They were dozen and tearful over loss of friends in Friday crash. One of the deceased passengers was an off-duty flight attendant who was assisting. A painting of a Wichita State football helmet, draped by a cap, is present at the crash site. [5], It was one of two aircraft carrying the 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team to Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State;[6] the second aircraft flew a conventional route and arrived safely in Utah. Today, a memorial below the crash site on Interstate 70 commemorates the tragedy, and the FAA has gone on to pass stricter regulations with each passing year. Golden Eagle Aviation did not own the DC-6, but had an arrangement with the Jack Richards Aircraft Company to use it. The plane hit the side of a mountain and 31 people were killed. Wichita Eagle and Beacon - Crash 1970. As the crow flies, the debris field is less 0.2 miles from I-70. They were bound for Logan, Utah, to play the Utah State University Aggies the following day. (John Putt) On the 2nd of October 1970, a chartered airliner carrying the Wichita State University football team took a detour to give the young players a close-up view of the Rocky Mountains. • Randy Kiesau, defensive back, Clinton High School. Pilot errors, including poor in-flight decisions and inadequate pre-flight planning, were officially reported as leading to the crash. Team '70, those Shockers call their fallen teammates. Lewis lives in Overland Park, Kansas, about six miles south of Interstate 70. Lewis’ leg was so badly damaged, his foot was hanging sideways. Leftover rubble from the aiplane crash. Almost every day, Dave Lewis walks out onto his back deck, gingerly, because his left leg remains a medical textbook, after six surgeries and four total knee replacements. Teammates, family members and friends visit the crash site of an airplane carrying members of the 1970 Wichita State University Shockers football team near … Wichita State constructed a memorial for those who died from the crash called Memorial ‘70. He was a defensive end from Duncan and had NFL aspirations. Lewis was lying on the ground when he realized all his clothes were gone, shorn off by the trees. A dazed Hoheisel and a few of his teammates were met on the mountain by a construction worker who was helping build the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70, below the crash site. Morgan Anderson. Lewis, wearing only a necktie and still in shock, tried to scoot down on his butt. He’ll gaze in the direction of I-70, which stretches west through 420 miles of Kansas, then to Denver. Wichita State Plane Wreck is a 1.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Silver Plume, Colorado that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The Marshall crash seemed to overshadow the Wichita State crash. The NTSB report stated a belief that many on board survived the initial impact, based on the testimony of survivors and rescuers. Box 4: FF 19: Crash Notes - Schaible. On Friday, October 2, 1970, a pair of Martin 404 twin-engine aircraft took off from Wichita, Kansas, carrying the Wichita State University (WSU) football team, coaches, and VIP supporters. Some of the survivors started down the mountain, seeking help. And Featherstone specifically wants Oklahomans to remember four of the 31: Four Oklahomans among the 31 aboard an airplane that entered a Colorado canyon and never came out. Wichita State University built a memorial for those who died from the crash called Memorial '70. Fifty years after his grandfather was killed in the crash of a plane carrying WSU football players and others to a game in Utah, Evan Fahrbach is pursuing an MBA at Wichita State with the help of a scholarship created to honor those in the crash. It was one of two aircraft carrying the 1970 Wichita State Shockers football team to Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State; the second aircraft flew a conventional route and arrived safely in Utah. [6] After the agreements were made, the DC-6 was damaged and was unavailable for use. Fifty years since one of the planes took the traditional route from Denver after a fuel stop, and the other plane took a scenic route. Fifty years ago today — Oct. 2, 1970 — I walked into the student newspaper office at Utah State University expecting to be given media credentials for the first college Greg Hansen: Remembering the Wichita State plane crash, 50 years later | Greg Hansen | tucson.com Featherstone spent 34 years in law enforcement but still breaks down when talking about his friends who never made it to Logan. Living A Miracle. And beyond. A Wichita State University flag hangs from a tree Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, above the crash site of the Martin 404 twin-engine plane that crashed into … Wichita State Crash Survivor Relives Details - The Oklahoman Crash site an important memorial for 'Gold Plane' family - Clear Creek Courant Triumph and tragedy: Scotties grad Barkell starred at Wichita State, recalls plane crash - Herald-Standard Trees remain down after being clipped by the wings of the airplane. As a student at Wichita State, Jeremy Hubbard was completely unaware of the 1970 plane crash. One of the planes proceeded to Utah via southern Wyoming, avoiding Colorado’s high mountain wall. Raymond and Yvonne King left behind seven children, ranging in ages from 18 to 4. The charred wreckage of N464M lies on a Colorado mountainside some hours after the crash. Of the 40 on board, 31 died either in the crash or as a result of injuries sustained in it. [9], The President of Golden Eagle Aviation, Ronald G. Skipper (1936–2003),[10] was the pilot flying "Gold. That is where the two planes took two vastly different paths into history leading to the Wichita State Crash. When Featherstone left John Marshall, Duren was a runt on the B team. 50 years ago, WSU’s football team was flying through the Dry Gulch when the plane crashed into the side of a mountain on Oct. 2, 1970. The designated "Black" plane transported the reserve players, assistant coaches, and other support personnel. The s… Wichita State plane crash survivor takes on a mission of remembrance The first time Rick Stephens descended Mount Trelease, near Silver Plume, Colorado, he faded in and out of consciousness. Relatives of members of the 1970 Wichita State University Shockers football team visit the crash site where an airplane carrying some of the players crashed near Loveland Pass Monday, July 27, 2020, west of Silver Plume, Colo. Wreckage from the plane, which was one of two being used to take the Shockers to play a football game against Utah State University in Logan, Utah, is still scattered on the … [19] A trail to the wreck site via Dry Gulch is 0.4 miles past the memorial off exit 216. Sports editor for The Sunflower, Sean Marty, observes the 1970 Wichita State plane crash site on Sunday, Sept. 27 near Silver Plume, Colorado. Christian sat two rows ahead of Lewis. [citation needed]. She answered the phone, and her son explained what had happened. Landing gear still remains on the mountain where the airplane went down. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone’s list. I got up to go to the cockpit, which wasn't unusual to do, and I could tell we were in trouble, looking out the window and seeing nothing but green in front of us. It’s here a plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. "[11], The overloaded aircraft,[12][13] nearing Loveland Pass as it flew up Clear Creek Valley, became trapped in a box canyon and was unable to climb above the mountain ridges surrounding it on three sides, nor complete a reversal turn away from the sharply rising terrain. [8] The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation report stated the First Officer testified that he intended to use the charts to help point out landmarks and objects of interest to the passengers. • Don Christian, defensive back, Duncan High School. National Honor Society member.”. [7], Shortly before the crash, several witnesses described seeing an aircraft flying unusually low towards the Continental Divide. Wichita State University held a memorial service at Cessna Stadium on Friday honoring both the victims and survivors of a plane crash 50 years ago. [7] Memorial '70: Survivors reflect on life after WSU plane crash - KAKE News The other crew flying the "Black" aircraft adhered to the original flight plan and took a more northerly route, heading north from Denver to southern Wyoming then west, using a designated airway. The scenery stopped in the canyon of Mount Trelease, above where the Eisenhower Tunnel was being constructed around I-70, 60 miles west of Denver. The accident was the first of two college football charter aircraft to crash in 1970; six weeks later, Southern Airways Flight 932, carrying the Marshall University team, crashed in Huntington, West Virginia as the team returned from a game in North Carolina. A memorial stands on the campus, and enhancements will be unveiled Friday. This might be the end of the official Wichita State commemorances. “They are still greatly missed to this day. There was never a cross word said between us.”. Of the 31 people killed, 14 were Wichita State football players. Every year on October 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial. “While we mourn those we lost that day, we also focus on those who survived the crash. Decades after a tragic plane crash took the lives of 31 people, families are still coping with their loss. John Yeros, back, chats with friends as they visit the crash site of an airplane carrying some members of the 1970 Wichita State University Shockers football team near … A memorial for victim Carl Kreuger sits at the crash site. “They are still greatly missed to this day,” Featherstone said. Of the 40 on board, 31 died. “I stayed where I was,” Featherstone said. [8], The two aircraft were dubbed "Gold" and "Black" after the school colors. (2000, October 1). Lewis could have been on the list. Lewis was sitting in the back of the plane, having migrated there in hopes he might entice a flight attendant to sit by him. He wants his home state to remember the four victims from Oklahoma. The report concluded the crew did not allow enough time for the charts to be studied properly to avoid high terrain before takeoff commenced. [6] "Gold", the aircraft that later crashed, carried the starting players, head coach, and athletic director, as well as their wives, other administrators, boosters, and family. Wichita State University built a memorial for those who died from the crash called Memorial '70. [4] At 1:14 p.m. MDT, the "Gold" aircraft struck trees on the east slope of Mount Trelease, 1,600 feet (490 m) below its summit, and crashed. [6] A pair of Martin 4-0-4s (which had not flown since 1967) were re-certified for flight. They will meet again Friday on the Wichita State campus, more than 30 strong, along with dozens of friends and family of victims and survivors. Then he informed the rest of the players and coaches on the Black Plane of the Gold Plane crash. He explained his experience when he found out about the Gold Plane crash when they arrived in Logan. That decision proved to be deadly when one plane went down, taking the lives of 32 people on board, including members of the Wichita State University football team, coaches and boosters. It’s been 50 years since the Shockers flew out for Logan, Utah, and a game against Utah State. Pilot errors, including poor in-flight decisions and inadequate pre-flight planning, were officially reported as leading to the crash. It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. “Class president. [6] The four-engined DC-6 was a large, powerful aircraft that could accommodate the entire team. So for 50 years, he’s remembered not just the names and faces, but the spirit that made those names and faces soar. “We had friends we were losing in Vietnam, but nobody expected a bunch of guys to go play a Saturday afternoon football game not arriving.”. A roadside memorial plaque listing the names of the victims is located near the Colorado crash site, adjacent to westbound Interstate 70, at Dry Gulch at milepost 217 (39°41′47″N 105°52′25″W / 39.6965°N 105.8736°W / 39.6965; -105.8736), about two miles (3 km) east of the Eisenhower Tunnel. HESSTON—Gary King played the role of a victim for a while after the Wichita State University plane crash that claimed his parents on Oct. 2, 1970. When the plane entered the canyon, and the Rocky Mountains suddenly loomed near, and the pilot started banking, desperately trying to buy time, Christian looked back at Lewis. The survivors are getting older. On 2 October 1970, a twin-engine plane carrying Wichita State University football players, staff and supporters crashed near Loveland Pass enroute to a game in Utah. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips. The Wichita State University football team plane crash refers to a 1970 plane crash. Black & Gold: Remembering The WSU Plane Crash video by KPTS. Wichita State plane crash survivor takes on a mission of remembrance The first time Rick Stephens descended Mount Trelease, near Silver Plume, Colorado, he faded in and out of consciousness. Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash … She also asked a question. Lutz, B. “I asked Glenn, ‘you think it works? [7] Crash survivor Rick Stephens was a senior guard and stated in 2013, "...as we flew along over I-70, that there were old mines and old vehicles above us. This sent me back to the tragic day, 50 years ago, when Randy was killed. 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