Wichita Eagle and Beacon - Crash 1970. Lewis and teammate Glenn Kostal were placed in a miner’s shack so they could lay down. But Featherstone has a particular mission. Only eight players and the co-pilot survived the crash. Wichita State wide receiver John Yeros was on the Black Plane. 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 … [6] The four-engined DC-6 was a large, powerful aircraft that could accommodate the entire team. [9], The President of Golden Eagle Aviation, Ronald G. Skipper (1936–2003),[10] was the pilot flying "Gold. The charred wreckage of N464M lies on a Colorado mountainside some hours after the crash. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. Every year on October 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial.[5]. [4][7], While the aircraft were refueled and serviced in Denver, First Officer Skipper purchased aeronautical sectional charts for the contemplated scenic route. Featherstone spent 34 years in law enforcement but still breaks down when talking about his friends who never made it to Logan. Forty-three days after the Wichita State plane crash, the Marshall University football team plane crashed, returning from a game at East Carolina. 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. He was thrown onto a pile of mangled mess. Team '70, those Shockers call their fallen teammates. On Oct. 2, 1970, Wichita State lineman Mal Kimmel boarded a plane with his teammates for their game against Utah State. Wichita State University built a memorial for those who died from the crash called Memorial '70. A special time to donate to the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship. 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. Box 4: FF 19: Crash Notes - Schaible. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,... Crash. A plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. 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 On Oct. 2, 1970, two planes carrying Wichita State football players, fans, family members, and crew took off from the Denver airport to fly to the Utah State for an away game. [7], Upon arrival in Wichita, the two aircraft were loaded with luggage and the passengers were boarded. “We do so to remember and honor our friends and to renew our relationships with each other,” Featherstone said. Commenting on NewsOK requires a NewsOK Pro or Oklahoman subscription. Featherstone grew up with Duren. Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments. They were thrown with their seats. “While we mourn those we lost that day, we also focus on those who survived the crash. 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 … A memorial stands on the campus, and enhancements will be unveiled Friday. Of the 40 on board, 31 died. [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. They were dozen and tearful over loss of friends in Friday crash. But in this part of the country, those of us alive at the time well remember the somber news from Oct. 2, 1970. 3-1127, "Wichita State recalls a crash that killed 31", "Crash survivor remembers Wichita State's saddest day", "Sightseeing is blamed in fatal plane crash", "Forgotten tragedy: Survivors' quest to keep memories of 1970 Wichita State crash from fading", "Wichita State gives up football, too expensive", Mondout, Patrick (2005), 1970 Wichita State Football Crash Memorial: Pictures, Super70s.com, Retrieved 2009-09-10, Roadside memorial adjacent to I-70 near Colorado crash site, Present-day photos of crash site on Mount Trelease, 1960s photo of the accident aircraft in Mohawk Airlines livery, Wichita State University Football Team Airplane Crash Collection, Icelandair Flugfélag Islands Flight Fl 704, Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, 1905 Washburn vs. Fairmount football game, Wichita State University football team plane crash, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wichita_State_University_football_team_plane_crash&oldid=994701139, Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 1970, Aviation accidents and incidents involving sports teams, Accidents and incidents involving the Martin 4-0-4, Aviation accidents and incidents caused by pilot error, Airliner accidents and incidents in Colorado, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 02:49. When the aircrafts stopped for fueling in Denver, the players stretched their legs on the tarmac. [6] A pair of Martin 4-0-4s (which had not flown since 1967) were re-certified for flight. Of the 40 on board, 31 died either in the crash or as a result of injuries sustained in it. Detailed directions and photos can be found on Mountainouswords.com. 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. Of the 40 on board, 31 died. Now as a news anchor, KDVR and KWGN in Denver, Hubbard recently published a documentary called “Overshadowed: The Wichita State Football Plane Crash”.. Hubbard said he didn’t know much about the crash besides the memorial on campus and became fascinated as he got further on into the … PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. One person was injured when a small plane crashed after taking off from a South Florida airport — the third crash the facility has seen in the last month, officials said. 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. Wichita State Plane Wreck. The starters generally flew on the gold plane, but Featherstone mistakenly still was assigned to the black plane for the trip. (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. “Class president. One of the caretakers of that history is John Yeros, a wide receiver who was on the reserve plane. It’s been 50 years since the Shockers flew out for Logan, Utah, and a game against Utah State. 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. Lewis doesn’t know how far he got before those miners found him. Trees remain down after being clipped by the wings of the airplane. Of the 31 people killed, 14 were Wichita State football players. A memorial for victim Carl Kreuger sits at the crash site. 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. But as they wound their way between the peaks, disaster struck: the plane became boxed into an inescapable … [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. 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 “But of course, nobody planned on COVID.”. The report concluded the crew did not allow enough time for the charts to be studied properly to avoid high terrain before takeoff commenced. Lewis’ mother turned hysterical, crying and yelling. Photos are courtesy of WSU Alum, Greg Records. They never arrived. Wichita State University Football Team Plane Crashes in Clear Creek Canyon. 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 … The group would never make it to Utah. Duren told Featherstone there was an empty seat on the black plane. 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. 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. Could have been on Rusty Featherstone’s list. Survivors, friends and family will convene at the Wichita Country Club to console and reminisce about the lives lost. The Wichita State plane crash is often forgotten and overshadowed because of a similar accident that happened just 43 days later. 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. That day, I cried. Let’s just try it,” Lewis said. After takeoff in clear weather, the two aircraft took divergent paths away from Denver. Eventually, a movie was made. The remnants of that Wichita State team have spent half a century honoring the memory of those who died. Section of wing with landing gear still visible. [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. The names of the 31 people who died in the 1970 Wichita State football plane crash are on a memorial on the western edge of the WSU campus, near Hillside Street. “He was a good guy. Lutz, B. You can also view his personality page at oklahoman.com/berrytramel. He explained his experience when he found out about the Gold Plane crash when they arrived in Logan. Like everyone else, he was cut and burned. Three generations later, the secrets of Wichita State's devastating plane crash are still unfolding - ESPN 'Gold Plane' & Silver Plume: the Wichita State Plane Crash Revisited- Clear Creak Courant A Look at the WSU Plane Crash's Aftermath- Clear Creek Courant Crash Site an Important Memorial for 'Gold Plane' Family - Clear Creek Courant Living A Miracle. Less scenic, this route allowed more time to gain altitude for the climb over the Rocky Mountains. 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. 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 … • Johnny Duren, wide receiver, John Marshall High School. Teammates, family members and friends visit the crash site of an airplane carrying members of the 1970 Wichita State University Shockers football team near … Nine people survived the crash. [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. "[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. It’s here a plane carrying the Wichita State football team crashed while traveling to a game at Utah State on Oct. 2, 1970. The NTSB report stated a belief that many on board survived the initial impact, based on the testimony of survivors and rescuers. 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 "[5], Wichita State and Utah State had played in five of the previous six seasons, but never met again in football. That is where the two planes took two vastly different paths into history leading to the Wichita State Crash. All 75 people aboard died. “Some of the greatest young men/athletes that ever came out of our state,” Featherstone said. They know that at some point, the memorials and memories will burn only in their souls. “Donnie was the strongest guy I ever met,” Lewis said. [4][7] The load of fuel on board did not explode immediately, allowing survivors to escape the wreckage, but the passenger cabin was eventually consumed by an explosion before those still alive and trapped inside could escape. He started throwing up blood. David Zalubowski/AP 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 … Lewis takes a list with him onto the deck. 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. 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. At Wichita State, there's no longer a football team to honor those who died in the crash. There was never a cross word said between us.”. “That was the last time I saw Johnny.”. [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. So Lewis called his mother at work back in Duncan. [14] The first officer (company president) survived; he was flying the plane from the left seat. “All four of these guys were great young men,” Featherstone said. 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. “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.”. [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. “They are still greatly missed to this day. 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. WSU Plane crash 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. • Randy Kiesau, defensive back, Clinton High School. When Featherstone left John Marshall, Duren was a runt on the B team. A list of the 31 people killed in the Wichita State football plane crash on Oct. 2, 1970. The Shockers traveled in two planes. But Featherstone was winning a hot and heavy game of spades; he wanted to see it through. [citation needed]. It crashed around 1 p.m. about 40 miles west of Denver on Mount Trelease. None may be as fascinating or sobering as the wreckage of the 1970 Wichita State University crash. This is the story of the crash, and what happened after. [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. Lewis says all the dead were wearing seat belts. September 27, 2020, 4:00 AM Wichita Eagle photographer Travis Heying in August visited the Colorado site where a plane that carried members of the Wichita State football team crashed … Portrait of John Yeros near the site of a plane crash … Credit: Denver Post (Denver Post via Getty Images) Denver Post Denver Post On October 2, 1970, these were ferried from the Jack Richards Aircraft Company facilities in Oklahoma City to Wichita, instead of the DC-6. • Don Christian, defensive back, Duncan High School. [5], Classes at Wichita State were canceled for Monday, October 5, and a memorial service was held that evening on campus at Cessna Stadium. Lewis was sitting in the back of the plane, having migrated there in hopes he might entice a flight attendant to sit by him. “We Are Marshall.” Marshall football rebounded and has thrived. Both airplanes refueled at Denver’s Stapleton Airport. The “Gold” plane was carrying many of the team’s starters, Head Coach Ben Wilson, athletic director Bert Katzenmeyer, and additional personnel. Lewis lives in Overland Park, Kansas, about six miles south of Interstate 70. Some witnesses located on higher mountainside locations, such as Loveland Pass at 11,990 feet (3,655 m), reported seeing it flying below them. Featherstone’s family eventually moved into the country, and he spent his final two seasons of high school at Edmond Memorial. They were bound for Logan, Utah, to play the Utah State University Aggies the following day. Black & Gold: Remembering The WSU Plane Crash video by KPTS. 31 out of the 40 people on board were killed. 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. This sent me back to the tragic day, 50 years ago, when Randy was killed. He was a defensive end from Duncan and had NFL aspirations. Lewis’ seat belt was off. [7] The 1970 Wichita State football plane crash was one of the worst in Colorado aviation history. So for 50 years, he’s remembered not just the names and faces, but the spirit that made those names and faces soar. 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. “They got us off the plane and onto a bus and told us not to talk to anybody,” Yeros said. Memorial '70: Survivors reflect on life after WSU plane crash - KAKE News Raymond and Yvonne King left behind seven children, ranging in ages from 18 to 4. 50 Years After the Wichita State Crash . She answered the phone, and her son explained what had happened. Leftover rubble from the aiplane crash. Today, traces of the tragic plane crash still remain on the mountain near Silver Plume, Colorado. National Honor Society member.”. [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). Sports editor for The Sunflower, Sean Marty, observes the 1970 Wichita State plane crash site on Sunday, Sept. 27 near Silver Plume, Colorado. Pilot errors, including poor in-flight decisions and inadequate pre-flight planning, were officially reported as leading to the crash. [7], Shortly before the crash, several witnesses described seeing an aircraft flying unusually low towards the Continental Divide. Each year on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial. Wichita State players remember their 'second season' 50 years later (8:03) Wichita State was devastated by a tragic plane crash 50 years ago. For 50 years, those Shockers have assembled in October to commemorate the lives lost. Decades after a tragic plane crash took the lives of 31 people, families are still coping with their loss. 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. Instead, their memories are preserved through families, teammates, friends and the school. 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. And beyond. Years later, Lewis would learn that teammate Mike Bruce, another survivor, pushed him through a hole to exit the hell of the crash. Lewis was lying on the ground when he realized all his clothes were gone, shorn off by the trees. 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. 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. Entertainers Bill Cosby and Monty Hall hosted a fundraiser for the Wichita State athletic department after the crash. 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. A painting of a Wichita State football helmet, draped by a cap, is present at the crash site. 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. Lewis, wearing only a necktie and still in shock, tried to scoot down on his butt. Then he informed the rest of the players and coaches on the Black Plane of the Gold Plane crash. Lewis was on the gold plane. • Tom Shedden, offensive tackle, Putnam City High School. “They are still greatly missed to this day,” Featherstone said. Fifty years ago, tragedy struck the Wichita State football program. “Randy and I played football at Clinton High School. (2000, October 1). “I look up there and think of them.”. As a student at Wichita State, Jeremy Hubbard was completely unaware of the 1970 plane crash. As the crow flies, the debris field is less 0.2 miles from I-70. I noticed we were quite a bit below the top of the mountains. 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. 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