Two airplane crashes in 1970 devastated two college football teams
A fireman looks over the wreckage of a DC-9 jet that was carrying the Marshall University football team in Kenova, W.Va., on Nov. 15, 1970. All 75 people aboard were killed. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS
On November 14, 1970, a plane carrying members of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team and coaching staff crashed in West Virginia, killing all 75 people on board and shattering the university and community.
The chartered Southern Airways DC-9 was returning from a game against East Carolina University earlier in the day in North Carolina. Marshall was defeated 17-14.
The plane went down while attempting to land at Tri-State Airport in Kenova, West Virginia.
Bulldozers plough through the wreckage of a DC9 chartered jet that crashed in Kenova, West Virginia, on November 15, 1970. The Marshall University football team, coaching staff, and boosters were all on board the plane. The entire crew of 75 was killed. (Photo courtesy of AP)Associated Press (AP)
According to history.com, the plane carried 37 football players, head coach Rick Tolley, team doctors, the university athletic director, and 25 Huntington, W.Va. football boosters.
The Marshall University story was made famous by the 2006 film “We Are Marshall.”
Fewer people are aware of another football tragedy that occurred a month earlier: the crash of an aeroplane carrying Wichita State University football players.
A rescue worker probes though the wreckage of a plane crash in Silver Plume, Colo. on Oct. 2, 1970. The crash claimed the lives of 31 members of the Wichita State University football team. (AP Photo)AP
On Oct. 2, 1970, two airplanes, dubbed “Gold” and Black” for the colors of Wichita State University, were carrying players, boosters, coaches and others to Utah for a football game against Utah State.
The university had a contract with Golden Eagle Aviation to provide a Douglas DC-6B to transport the team to away games. However, the aviation company did not own a DC-6 so it made arrangements to use one. But, the DC-6 was damaged so the aviation company opted to use two Martin 4-0-4 aircraft.
The “Gold” aircraft carried the starting players, head coach and athletic director. The “Black” airplane carried the reserve players and assistant coaches.
