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.
Plane crashes in sports have devastated pro teams and college programs, including Iowa State cross country
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Updated: 3:34 PM CST Jan 30, 2025
The crash of an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter was the latest to strike the sports world in the U.S. and globally.Among the passengers were several members of the Skating Club of Boston who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. They included teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers and two highly regarded Russian-born figure skating coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. All 64 people on board were feared dead.Air travel accidents in sports are rare, but they have had devastating impacts on national programs, amateur teams and professional clubs.More coverage of deadly D.C. crash:Collision between passenger jet and Army helicopter near DC kills 67Figure skaters and coaches on plane that collided midair near DC'Not sure how to process it': Tearful Nancy Kerrigan on plane crash that killed skaters from her home clubGasps heard on air traffic control audio as passenger jet, Army helicopter collide near DCA look at some of the plane crash tragedies that have struck the sports world over the decades:Iowa State University cross countryIt 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.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 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 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.WATCH: Memorial 30 years after ISU plane crash Manchester United football clubOn Feb. 6, 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United team and officials crashed as it attempted to take off on a slush-covered runway in Munich. The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, and the plane stopped to refuel in Munich. Among the 23 people were killed were eight Man U players and three team officials. Among those who survived was England great Bobby Charlton.More coverage:Des Moines flights to, from Washington D.C. canceled after passenger plane, Army helicopter collisionIowa leaders share reactions to deadly DC plane crashVideo appears to show plane, helicopter collide over Potomac RiverWitness describes seeing plane and helicopter collision from George Washington ParkwayVideo: American Airlines CEO releases statement after passenger plane, helicopter collide'It's very personal': Officials provide first update to plane crashU.S. Figure Skating teamOn Feb 15, 1961, a commercial flight carrying all 18 members of the U.S. Figure Skating team to the world championships in Prague crashed near the Brussels airport, killing everyone one board. Six coaches were also on the plane, along with four team officials and six of the group's family members.Wichita State University footballOn Oct. 2, 1970, one of two chartered jets carrying the Wichita State football team to a game in Utah crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. Of the 40 on board, 31 died, including 14 players along with coaches, boosters, administrators, trainers and three crew members. The NTSB later said the crash could be attributed primarily to pilot error.Marshall University footballOn Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying the Thundering Herd crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team returned from a game at East Carolina. All 75 on board were killed, including 36 football players and 39 school administrators, coaches, fans, spouses and flight crew.Uruguay rugby clubOn Oct. 13, 1972, a chartered Uruguayan Air Force flight carrying the Old Christians Club from Montevideo Uruguay, to Santiago, Chile, crashed in the snowy Andes Mountains. The wreckage was not found for two months and only 16 of the 45 people on board survived. Facing snow storms, avalanches and starvation, survivors awaiting rescue were forced to eat the flesh of those who had died, and their ordeal has been chronicled in books and movies.Evansville University basketballOn Dec. 13, 1977, an Air Indiana chartered plane with the Evansville University men's basketball team crashed 90 seconds after takeoff from the Evansville airport. The 29 people killed included 14 players and first-year head coach Bobby Watson.U.S. Boxing teamOn March 14, 1980 the U.S. amateur boxing team was flying from New York to Poland for international events ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics when their plane crashed near Warsaw. All 87 on board were killed, including 14 boxers and eight team staff members. Two months later, the U.S. decided to boycott the Olympics due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.Zambia national soccer teamOn April 28, 1993, a military aircraft carrying Zambia's national soccer team to a World Cup qualifying match crashed into the sea minutes after takeoff from Libreville, Zambia. The team was on its way to play Senegal in the second round of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. Eighteen players and five team officials were killed.Oklahoma State University basketballOn Jan. 27, 2001, a turboprop plane carrying 10 men associated with the Oklahoma State University basketball team, including players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson, crashed shortly after takeoff near Boulder, Colorado, after the Cowboys had played at the University of Colorado. Six team staffers and broadcasters also were killed.Russian ice hockey teamOn Sept. 7, 2011, 36 players, coaches and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl professional ice hockey team were killed when their plane crashed near Yaroslavl in central Russia. Investigators said one of the two pilots accidentally put the wheel brakes on during takeoff. Of the 45 people on board, 44 died. The only player who survived the initial crash later died of burns. A flight engineer was the sole survivor.
DES MOINES, Iowa — The crash of an was the latest to strike the sports world in the U.S. and globally.
Among the passengers were several members of the Skating Club of Boston who were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas. They included teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, their mothers and two highly regarded Russian-born figure skating coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. All 64 people on board were feared dead.
Air travel accidents in sports are rare, but they have had devastating impacts on national programs, amateur teams and professional clubs.
More coverage of deadly D.C. crash:
A look at some of the plane crash tragedies that have struck the sports world over the decades:
Iowa State University cross country
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.
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 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 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.
WATCH: Memorial 30 years after ISU plane crash
Manchester United football club
On Feb. 6, 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United team and officials crashed as it attempted to take off on a slush-covered runway in Munich. The team was returning from a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, and the plane stopped to refuel in Munich. Among the 23 people were killed were eight Man U players and three team officials. Among those who survived was England great Bobby Charlton.
More coverage:
U.S. Figure Skating team
On Feb 15, 1961, a commercial flight carrying all 18 members of the U.S. Figure Skating team to the world championships in Prague crashed near the Brussels airport, killing everyone one board. Six coaches were also on the plane, along with four team officials and six of the group's family members.
Wichita State University football
On Oct. 2, 1970, one of two chartered jets carrying the Wichita State football team to a game in Utah crashed near Silver Plume, Colorado. Of the 40 on board, 31 died, including 14 players along with coaches, boosters, administrators, trainers and three crew members. The NTSB later said the crash could be attributed primarily to pilot error.
Marshall University football
On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered jet carrying the Thundering Herd crashed in fog and rain into a hillside upon approach to an airport near Huntington as the team returned from a game at East Carolina. All 75 on board were killed, including 36 football players and 39 school administrators, coaches, fans, spouses and flight crew.
Uruguay rugby club
On Oct. 13, 1972, a chartered Uruguayan Air Force flight carrying the Old Christians Club from Montevideo Uruguay, to Santiago, Chile, crashed in the snowy Andes Mountains. The wreckage was not found for two months and only 16 of the 45 people on board survived. Facing snow storms, avalanches and starvation, survivors awaiting rescue were forced to eat the flesh of those who had died, and their ordeal has been chronicled in books and movies.
Evansville University basketball
On Dec. 13, 1977, an Air Indiana chartered plane with the Evansville University men's basketball team crashed 90 seconds after takeoff from the Evansville airport. The 29 people killed included 14 players and first-year head coach Bobby Watson.
U.S. Boxing team
On March 14, 1980 the U.S. amateur boxing team was flying from New York to Poland for international events ahead of the 1980 Moscow Olympics when their plane crashed near Warsaw. All 87 on board were killed, including 14 boxers and eight team staff members. Two months later, the U.S. decided to boycott the Olympics due to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan.
Zambia national soccer team
On April 28, 1993, a military aircraft carrying Zambia's national soccer team to a World Cup qualifying match crashed into the sea minutes after takeoff from Libreville, Zambia. The team was on its way to play Senegal in the second round of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. Eighteen players and five team officials were killed.
Oklahoma State University basketball
On Jan. 27, 2001, a turboprop plane carrying 10 men associated with the Oklahoma State University basketball team, including players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson, crashed shortly after takeoff near Boulder, Colorado, after the Cowboys had played at the University of Colorado. Six team staffers and broadcasters also were killed.
Russian ice hockey team
On Sept. 7, 2011, 36 players, coaches and staff of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl professional ice hockey team were killed when their plane crashed near Yaroslavl in central Russia. Investigators said one of the two pilots accidentally put the wheel brakes on during takeoff. Of the 45 people on board, 44 died. The only player who survived the initial crash later died of burns. A flight engineer was the sole survivor.
