The crash scene in the heart of this residential area was the city's biggest sightseeing attraction today, there was plenty to see as neighbors looked on in amazement at how the plane narrowly missed the large homes on the block by light of day. It's clear the plane was headed east along Shriver Avenue, clipping off tree limbs. Finally, the craft smashed head on into *** large oak tree and burst into flames. All I can determine is it wasn't flying where it wouldn't have came down. The chief investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board says his first look at the plane provided no clues, there was plenty of fuel, he doubts the plane was overloaded and icing is possible but not likely because the plane was well equipped to fly in bad weather. The next question to be answered is whether one of the two engines had quit. Some of the people I've heard last night said they were running, some of them said one was running, the other one wasn't running. And at this time, I really don't know. But that's something we will have to work on the manager of the Air traffic Control tower today. Confirmed what TV. News reported last night that the aero commander was making its first approach from northwest to southeast intending to land on the main runway at Des Moines. Airport Manager, Bill Ellis says the plane was two miles out when it suddenly veered to the left and crashed. He would not say what is on the tower tape except that the pilot reported no problems until the last few seconds. P County's medical examiner performed autopsies last night to determine the exact cause of death. And all the subjects, we determined that it was both trauma or injury plus thermal burns. I'm sure that none of the subjects were conscious as they died. I'm sure the impact caused unconsciousness and they died just very shortly thereafter. Since investigators have found no readily apparent reasons for last night's crash, we may not know for some time exactly what went wrong. This airplane will now be moved to *** hangar where the engines will be dismantled for further study. And late this afternoon, workmen used *** crane to lift the plane onto *** truck and move it from this usually quiet neighborhood, Dave bus TV. Eight news.
From the archives: Watch 1985 story on ISU plane crash that killed 7
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Updated: 3:35 PM CST Jan 30, 2025
It was Nov. 25, 1985, when a twin-engine plane carrying members of the Iowa State University women’s cross-country team crashed in a residential Des Moines neighborhood, killing all seven people on board. The victims were identified as Burton H. Watkins of Ames, director of the Iowa State University Flight Service and pilot of the airplane; Ron Renko of Ames, head coach of the ISU women’s track and cross country teams; Pat Moynihan of Ames, assistant coach; Stephanie Streit of Hawarden, student trainer for the ISU Athletic Department; and cross-country team members Susan Baxter of Brentwood, Essex, England; Julie Rose of Ashford, Kent, England, and Sheryl Maahs of Spirit Lake.Archive video above: Watch vlog's news coverage of the crash in 1985In 2015, on the 30th anniversary of the crash, hundreds gathered at a new memorial honoring the victims. What happened on Nov. 25, 1985?The Aero Commander, one of three planes carrying members of the men’s and women’s teams and coaching staff from Milwaukee to Ames, crashed in a freezing drizzle shortly before 6 p.m., and missed a house by 70 feet, according to Des Moines police Sgt. Bill Mullins. The crash also knocked out power to about 1,600 homes.The women’s team had finished second behind Wisconsin in the NCAA championship meet hosted by Marquette University and held at Dretzka Park in Milwaukee.The Des Moines Municipal Airport control tower reported that the pilot of the plane reported “severe vibrations and that he was climbing to 3,000 feet,” said H.A. Westbrook, Ames airport manager. “At 5:25 p.m., the (Des Moines) tower reported it went down off their radar screen,” he said.It was unusual for a pilot to report he was climbing again because the plane was so close to the Des Moines airport, about three miles away, Westbrook said.Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.From 2015: 30 years after ISU plane crash, people gather to remember victimFrom 2015: Memorial to honor 30 years since fiery plane crash killed ISU runners
DES MOINES, Iowa — It was Nov. 25, 1985, when a twin-engine plane carrying members of the Iowa State University women’s cross-country team crashed in a residential Des Moines neighborhood, killing all seven people on board.
The victims were identified as Burton H. Watkins of Ames, director of the Iowa State University Flight Service and pilot of the airplane; Ron Renko of Ames, head coach of the ISU women’s track and cross country teams; Pat Moynihan of Ames, assistant coach; Stephanie Streit of Hawarden, student trainer for the ISU Athletic Department; and cross-country team members Susan Baxter of Brentwood, Essex, England; Julie Rose of Ashford, Kent, England, and Sheryl Maahs of Spirit Lake.
Archive video above: Watch vlog's news coverage of the crash in 1985
In 2015, on the 30th anniversary of the crash, hundreds gathered at a new memorial honoring the victims.
What happened on Nov. 25, 1985?
The Aero Commander, one of three planes carrying members of the men’s and women’s teams and coaching staff from Milwaukee to Ames, crashed in a freezing drizzle shortly before 6 p.m., and missed a house by 70 feet, according to Des Moines police Sgt. Bill Mullins. The crash also knocked out power to about 1,600 homes.
The women’s team had finished second behind Wisconsin in the NCAA championship meet hosted by Marquette University and held at Dretzka Park in Milwaukee.
The Des Moines Municipal Airport control tower reported that the pilot of the plane reported “severe vibrations and that he was climbing to 3,000 feet,” said H.A. Westbrook, Ames airport manager. “At 5:25 p.m., the (Des Moines) tower reported it went down off their radar screen,” he said.
It was unusual for a pilot to report he was climbing again because the plane was so close to the Des Moines airport, about three miles away, Westbrook said.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.
From 2015: 30 years after ISU plane crash, people gather to remember victim
From 2015: Memorial to honor 30 years since fiery plane crash killed ISU runners
