WICHITA, KS—Fifty-five years ago, a tragedy forever changed the landscape of college sports and the Wichita State University (WSU) community. Today, the university is holding its annual Memorial ’70 ceremony to honor the lives of the 31 players, staff, and supporters who died in a plane crash on October 2, 1970.
The brief ceremony is a time for remembrance and reflection, held every year to ensure that the victims of one of college sports’ worst tragedies are never forgotten.
The Day of the Crash
On Friday, October 2, 1970, a chartered Martin 4-0-4 airliner, named the “Gold” plane, took off from Denver with the WSU football team, coaches, and boosters on board, heading for a game against Utah State University.
In clear weather, the pilot chose a “scenic route” through the Rocky Mountains. The plane, which was dangerously overloaded, became trapped in a box canyon and was unable to climb over the rising terrain. It crashed into a mountain eight miles west of Silver Plume, Colorado.
- Fatalities: Of the 40 people on board, 31 lost their lives. This included 14 football players, several coaches, university staff, and other supporters.
- Survivors: There were nine initial survivors, including eight players and the co-pilot. Two of the survivors later died from their injuries.
- A Tale of Two Planes: A second plane, the “Black” plane, carrying the rest of the team, flew a different, conventional route and arrived safely in Utah. The players on the second plane were informed of the tragedy upon arrival.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later determined the cause of the crash to be pilot error, citing a lack of proper flight planning.
A Legacy of Remembrance
The crash devastated the university and the surrounding community. Classes were canceled, and a memorial service was held on campus. The Utah State football team, whose game was canceled, held its own memorial service and placed a black and yellow wreath on the 50-yard line in tribute.
In the aftermath, the remaining WSU football players made the difficult decision to continue the season, a choice that gave the 1970 season the name, “The Second Season.”
Today, the victims are honored at the annual Memorial ’70 ceremony, which takes place at the Memorial near 18th and Hillside on the WSU campus. The ceremony is a time for the community to acknowledge the lasting impact of the crash and remember the lives that were lost. A scholarship, the Football ’70 Memorial Scholarship, is also awarded each year to a WSU student in memory of the victims.
Conclusion
The 55th anniversary of the 1970 plane crash is a poignant reminder of a day of profound loss for Wichita State University. While the shock of the tragedy has faded with time, the memory of those who died lives on through the annual memorial, the scholarship fund, and the powerful lessons of resilience learned by the community in its wake.
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Disclaimer
This article is based on historical facts from the 1970 Wichita State University football team plane crash and information from the university’s annual memorial service. The crash details, including fatalities, survivors, and the cause, are from the official National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. For information on the annual ceremony, readers should visit the official Wichita State University website.
Official Website Link: Wichita State University: https://www.wichita.edu/
