Stephens says he heard Crocker ask Skipper how high the mountain ahead of them was. By the time Duren graduated, he was a superstar, Featherstone said. They Some are in poor health. Stephens and co-pilot Doctors at Johns Hopkins in Maryland implanted a battery-powered device in her chest to regulate her heartbeat. At 1:14 pm, highway workers saw the plane dip and strike the side of Mt. "That is unheard of: No one that I am aware of has ever done something like that. Couple, 'seasoned pilots' identified as 2 killed in Oconee County plane clip off the tops of trees. For the football team, the human toll was monumental. Despite the incident, Emily went with her family on their Christmas ski vacation to Granby, Colorado, 8,000 feet up in the mountains and less than 60 miles from where Mal had died. "We thought it was important today that while he was here that we recognize him for the things hes done for us over the years. She'd come through another long procedure at Johns Hopkins in time for an emotional senior night, when Emily would be on the court again. He wants his home state to remember the four victims from Oklahoma. "So we got out the maps -- 'Where's Wichita?'" Oct. 2, 1970. USA, Henry, Others, such as former KPTS production manager Gabe Juhnke Lewis, wearing only a necktie and still in shock, tried to scoot down on his butt. of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn Kostal, the stories of the families of the victims, the survivors and their struggles, and ", Moments later, Stephens was facing the back of the cabin, trying to return to his seat, when the plane banked sharply to the right and then to the left. sometimes a need, to keep the story alive. or when they pass Memorial 70 and are proud to play a role in documenting the stories. Construction worker Jerry Meyer told the press, we passed seven of the survivors coming down the hill. Resend Activation Email. Eventually, a movie was made. The WSU Shockers football squad hoped to win its first game of the season at Utah after losing its first three. Explore the most popular trails in my list plane crash trails with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The FAA immediately imposed a $50,000 fine on the Jack Richards Aircraft Company, the planes manufacturer, and rescinded the inspection certificate of the mechanic who had deemed the plane airworthy. The thirty-one victims of the Wichita State University plane crash in October 1970 are commemorated in this memorial near the Eisenhower Tunnel along Interstate 70. "How many laps did they have to run? Kansas man makes pilgrimage to Continental Divide half century after Maxwell I remember When I look back at my 11 years in The Eagle, I, in a lot of ways, consider that We always thought the 50th would be the biggest reunion, Featherstone said. I didnt feel like I could understand the impact of the story without being there, Frish, a 2019 Wichita State graduate with a major in media arts and film-making, helped It became a story about the people and the survivors and the families, he said. Emily was heartbroken. The survivors are getting older. Mal Kimmel wouldn't see any of that. They had known Diane since her freshman year, and now, one professor after another told her, kindly, "No, that doesn't sound like your best decision." Emily would head off to college in excellent health. Stephens was thrown out of the plane, landing in front of it. USA, Plot info: Addition 1, Block 27, Lot 9, Space 5. Greenwood County, In 2010, Lutz went to Nixa, Missouri, to interview the family of crash victim Mal Kimmel. He wrote more about the crash Wichita State to hold Memorial '70 ceremony at Cessna Stadium Our experts answer 6 portal questions, College football reporters' NFL draft takeaways, Badgers' Allen facing concealed weapon charge, USF RB facing charge for felony domestic battery, Deion 'ashamed' after only 1 HBCU player drafted, Spartans QB Thorne, WR Coleman enter portal, Philly Dawgs: Eagles add Ringo to UGA draft haul, Biden salutes Air Force for fall success over rivals, New Big Ten boss Petitti ready to lead 'new era', College football Future Power Rankings: Defenses, Ranking college football's 10 best running backs for 2023. USA, Plot info: Garden of the Cross-Lot 38C-Grave 3, Eureka, The Pieces That Remain: Remembering the Wichita State Plane Crash, Randy Kiesau and his parents memories of their son, to interview the family of crash victim Mal Kimmel. 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. Kansas, Lets just try it, Lewis said. so many other (stories) as a way to remember it and let these people know that it Wichita Airplane Crash 1965 Families in a working-class, mostly African American Wichita neighborhood were just starting their day. Cook County, WSU Plane crash: a Virtual Cemetery - Find a Grave several attempts, Renner said, Vetter told him, "Bobby, I'm burning. All our clothes had been blown off or torn off, and I was buried up to my chest in 31 out of the 40 people on board were killed. On May 3, 1968, Braniff Flight 352 crashed in the town of Dawson, about 80 miles southeast of Fort Worth. 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. His parents would be interred alongside their son many years later. for that anniversary to pass now and me not to feel something. That morning in 1970 -- Mal Kimmel's last morning -- Diane got to the top floor and took one more glance through the staircase's windows, out to the bright, clear day that was beginning to blossom. Sedgwick County, She lifted up Emily's legs to improve blood flow to her heart. down the hill to get help. my signature story, he said. I remember walking home from school and being distraught The tragedy remained fresh among people on campus and the annual To use this feature, use a newer browser. Dickinson County, Mike (Bruce) and Dave Lewis and Johnny (Taylor) were already there, and Mike started From the moment he found out that he was going to be a father, Mal was like a man on fire with Diane -- staying up late, coming up with names, trying to figure out money, school, all of it. He was a chick magnet. But when Friday night gave way to Saturday morning, Mal had not yet been accounted for. To most questions, he replied I dont recall. Eventually, it was determined that the plane was carrying more weight than it could handle and that the engines lacked sufficient power for a quick gain of altitude. the pilots. trips with the Shockers. long-time radio voice of Shockers athletics. All rights reserved. For me, it goes even a little Her buzzer-beater off the glass drove the crowd into a frenzy. This was also the first time the team would play that far west. After graduating with a degree in nursing from WSU, Valory would work for a year in Wichita before eventually moving to Kansas City, Missouri. Survivors and family members of the crash victims attended the service. She interviewed Stephens about a week before the 2018 anniversary of the crash. But I was looking out the window. Genevieve wearing a long dress and a sash as a queen candidate, sitting in the back of a convertible to acknowledge her adoring public. But of course, nobody planned on COVID.. In mid-December, while shooting around at the gym, Emily fainted and spent a night in the ICU. And terrified. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Being part of a Emily's siblings called 911. How do you get through this?". that., Lutz told the story, in 1995, about Randy Kiesau and his parents memories of their son. The crash killed 31 passengers, including 14 players. Nineteen-year-old Valory was describing her undergraduate studies at Missouri State to vice president of student affairs James J. Rhatigan when he floored her with an unexpected offer: Would she like to attend nursing school at WSU, all expenses paid? It led to one of the more unlikely games in college . feeling sorrow. Even as the players in Wichita reviewed their scouting reports on the Razorbacks, the National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash was being held within walking distance of Cessna Stadium. Bethel, exploding twice on the slope. by the wings of the airplane. But Featherstone has a particular mission. The fire deterred those looking to return for people still trapped in the plane. He was excited: The coaches had told Mal that after two seasons as the team's long snapper, he'd be starting at center on Saturday. English You walk in on eggshells, that I want to tell your story, and I want you to feel comfortable being able to talk about it, Lutz said. visited the crash site. Nine people survived the crash. Mal Kimmel had the ARVC gene; he died the day before he was going to play what might have been his first full game of football in two years. I recall. After they married in the summer of 1970, when their dog, Joe Black, ate the wedding cake moments before the reception, at last "he could move out of the dorm and we could live together," she says. Survivor Reflections - Wichita State University Michigan, After freeing Rick Stephens would be brought to testify at the hearing on his hospital bed. Her skin was mottled; she began to turn blue. Harvey County, it exploded. what he remembered. about the crash in the Sunflower. For 50 years, those Shockers have assembled in October to commemorate the lives lost. Search above to list available cemeteries. There is a problem with your email/password. Then, just a few seconds later, it Traveling in . ", Valory grew up strong, confident -- and, she says, fascinated by "everything, everything" about the man whose shirts her mother sometimes wore and whose photograph was in the living room. 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 Associated to play baseball. afternoon as you could ever want, said Kennedy, a 1971 Wichita State graduate and I think theres a real misconception that thats the day we lost football. "It was at least a week before we had official confirmation that his remains had been identified," Diane says. Players on both teams moved out of the way. Lewis leg was so badly damaged, his foot was hanging sideways. The Gold Plane's first officer, Ronald Skipper, had a different idea. 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. How journalists remember 1970 WSU plane crash | Wichita State News remember what happened.. Haertls connection to the story started when he arrived at Wichita State in 1978 Wichita State players remember their 'second season' 50 years later (8:03), Three generations later, the secrets of Wichita State's devastating plane crash are still unfolding, What's going on at Colorado? When Featherstone left John Marshall, Duren was a runt on the B team. It made me really proud to be an alumni, he said. Lewis could have been on the list. It was determined that significant responsibility lay with the FAA for failing to follow on its warnings issued to schools, including WSU, against using Golden Eagles services. Marshall resumed football after a crash that He didn't like flying much and was in the habit of picking up a little something at the airport -- Dramamine, if they had it -- and dozing through flights. who served as dean of students at the time of the crash, complimented Knapp on a story Featherstone was on the plane that didnt crash. And she did exactly what she needed to do." Michigan Couple Identified as Victims of Georgia Plane Crash "Just make sure I'm under this tree," he told her. I "It is a haunting experience to go up there," Stephens says. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Featherstone grew up with Duren. memorial ceremony a poignant reminder for the many people who attended or worked at Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The plane started shaking. Tunnel workers clambered up the hill and met Bruce, who told them to head to the crash site while he went for help. "I wanted her to know what a wonderful person he was. 200 | Wichita, KS 67202 | (316) 978-6789. ", She had visited him at WSU on weekends, driving through the night with his parents, before enrolling there herself one year later, immersing herself in a social world that revolved around football. LOVELAND, Colo. It's been 50 years since a plane crashed near Loveland Pass claiming 31 lives of the 40 Wichita State University (WSU) football team . Learn about changes to our search options . Before work on the touch me so much as that did. heard. The Associated Press. [18] A trail to the wreck site via Dry Gulch is 0.4 miles past the memorial off exit 216. Mal. It was too late to save team trainer Thomas Reeves, who died of burns in Idaho Springs. Others tried to rescue those trapped in the front part of the cabin, some of whom were screaming for help. to talk about it, and the fact he was willing to do that, is something I felt really "I always say I've had a guardian angel," she says. So just before going into the psychology department, Diane smiled at Mal. He went to Evansville, Indiana, several times with Wichita Sedgwick County, The search for corpses in the wreckage continued until midnight, then renewed on Sunday morning. One of her sisters had it and had to stop playing competitive tennis. "I'm like, 'OK, Dad, if there's anything you can do about this, figure it out for me.'" He writes about applied learning and covers I wanted to live where he grew up," she says, yearning for more time in Ste. "I have relived that crash so often," Diane says. Her own family felt the same way: She had lots of relatives there, plenty of friends from high school, and her father was the school superintendent. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. When he interviewed teammates, such as Yeros, he drew inspiration from their devotion After they parted, she began climbing the three or four flights of stairs that led to the office where she had worked 30 hours a week as a secretary since coming to school: the WSU psychology department. Oconee Co plane crash victims identified - WGAU Genevieve, Missouri, to the rural life he'd known before Wichita State. I looked up and there was a huge hole. The brotherhood that I witnessed as a result Climbing over Jack Vetter, the blond offensive lineman in the aisle seat, Stephens decided to visit the flight deck, as he'd done on earlier trips, and chat with the pilots. Illinois, Both airplanes refueled at Denver's Stapleton Airport. few weeks later. 2 min read. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. But there was a group of people who didn't agree: those in the psychology department. So she would try harder." his way of sharing his testimony about the people he cared so much about. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. They noticed a phone. of talking to a lot of them was really inspiring.. Kansas, The blazes finally died out several hours later. After the plane crash, when so much about her life was in turmoil, everyone seemed certain what Diane should do. The same spirit has brought members of WSU's 1970 team and loved ones to pay their respects at the casket-shaped memorial just off I-70 outside Silver Plume, Colorado, where the names of Malory W. Kimmel and the 30 others who perished are inscribed on a plaque. team, being part of a brotherhood. He started waving, "and I fainted. 27 cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. "There was not a dry eye in the gym," Diane says. The passengers enjoyed the aerial view of the changing autumn leaves, with the village of Georgetown gleaming below. A memorial stands on the campus, and enhancements will be unveiled Friday. I asked Glenn, you think it works? able to say, genuinely, that I was a fan of that program and I went to a lot of their Crash 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. She wasn't done. Kansas, up outside. (1995, October 3). In early October 1970, a twin-engine aircraft carrying forty people associated with the Wichita State University football team crashed into Mt. Meet the NFL draft darling playing only once this fall, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Survivors of the crash were players Mike Bruce, John Hoheisel, Randy Jackson, Glenn Kostal, Dave Lewis, Keith Morrison, Bob Renner, Rick Stephens and co-pilot Ronald Skipper. One plane crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. They had flown the overloaded plane straight into a box canyon, hemmed in on both sides and unable to turn around. Each year on Oct. 2 at 9 a.m., a wreath is placed at this memorial. It was both a wry prophecy and a tribute to her late father, whom she seemed to favor. Featherstone, a retired Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent, was Lewis teammate with those 1970 Wheatshockers. To its passengers, the plane seemed quite low, and some of them heard the pilot announce that it was taking the scenic route through the Rocky Mountains. USA, Oklahoma City, The sense of loss never really changed from within them. It was spring 1967, the era of the Vietnam War and the draft, and there weren't a lot of kids from Ste.