A chartered plane carrying eight team members, trainers and broadcasters crashed about 6:35 p.m. in a snowstorm 40 miles east of Denver after taking off from Jefferson County Airport, Federal Aviation Administration officials said.
Two pilots also died in the crash.
No flight-data recorders from the Beechcraft King Air 200 Catpass — which seats 11 passengers — were found Saturday, according to Associated Press reports. There was no distress call from the crew before the crash, according to National Transportation Safety Board reports.
“This is indeed a very sad day for Oklahoma State University,” said James Halligan, university president. “This is really tough and so tragic — we have to focus on the players now.”
OSU players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson, Coordinator of Media Relations Will Hancock, OSU Director of Basketball Operations Pat Noyes, Athletic Trainer Brian Luinstra, Student Manager Jared Weiberg, Broadcast Engineer Kendall Durfey, Oklahoma City Broadcaster Bill Teegins and pilots Denver Mills and Bjorn Falistrom were on the plane, said Steve Buzzard, OSU sports information director, at a late evening press conference Saturday.
At a Sunday afternoon press conference in Gallagher-Iba Arena, where many well-wishers left flowers, photographs and cards in memory of those on the plane, Buzzard announced that a memorial service would take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the arena.
Harry Birdwell, OSU vice president for business and external relations, promised to “leave no stone unturned” as the university investigates the plane crash and the methods OSU student-athletes use to travel.
“We are going to have a complete review of our policies,” Birdwell said.
In a statement issued Sunday from Big 12 Athletic Conference Associate Commissioner Donnie Duncan, OSU’s Tuesday game at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, will be postponed.
Buzzard, however, said the team plans to play the remainder of the season and use planes for travel to away games.
OSU officials first gathered late Saturday at the rain-soaked Stillwater Regional Airport to provide thumbnail details to the media and offer their sympathies to the families of those on the plane.
“We have to let our loved ones embrace, and try to … and try to…,” said a teary-eyed Halligan as he walked away from media members for a moment of solitude.
OSU Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips also was visibly shaken when he offered condolences to the players and their families.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the players, trainers and coaches,” Phillips said.
State and local officials took time late Saturday and early Sunday to pay tribute to the “wonderful, productive lives” of those on board.
“It’s a horrific tragedy, which will be remembered for many years to come,” Gov. Frank Keating said early Sunday. “Cathy and I will hold the families in our prayers, as we hope everyone else will.”
Keating ordered all flags across the state be lowered to half-staff in memory of the tragedy and announced plans to attend the memorial service at OSU.
“My son, Chip, and his friends have already lowered the flags at the mansion,” Keating said.
In a statement from the office of University of Oklahoma President David Boren, Boren wrote, “The entire University of Oklahoma family extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have been lost in the tragedy.”
Stillwater officials shared personal memories and prayers Sunday afternoon.
“This is a tragic loss,” said Larry Brown, Stillwater mayor. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the crash victims.”
Brown pledged the city commission’s assistance — together with the entire OSU community — to the friends and family of the victims.
“All of the crash victims and their families are not just part of the OSU community,” Brown said. “They are also part of the Stillwater community, and we will do everything we can to help ease the pain of this tragic loss.
“We’ll miss every single one of them,” he said.Stillwater City Commissioner Tom Cleveland, who called the tragedy “a great loss to Stillwater,” urged the community to come together in a time of need.
“This is obviously a very devastating loss to the families and the community,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those that experienced this loss.”
Stillwater City Commissioner Chuck Thomas said, “We are at the service of everyone in need,” pledging assistance to friends and family of the victims.
“Like everyone else in the community, I am saddened and shocked by (Saturday’s) tragedy,” Thomas said. “From myself, the City Commission, and the entire city of Stillwater, our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of this tragedy.”
Citing a chain of tragic events that have ravaged Oklahoma — including the Oklahoma City bombing, a devastating string of tornadoes and the death of Stillwater Mayor Mike Henson — Thomas called Saturday’s tragedy “a trial of faith.”
“It is just a tough day for us,” Thomas said. “It just seems like all these things stack up at one time and really try your faith. I really feel that faith in the Lord is the only thing that will get us through this tough time.”
Athletic officials from Oklahoma universities and the Big 12 offered sympathy and support to OSU basketball players, coaches and families.
“We all talk about rivalry, but one of the things that makes a rivalry good is the greatness in the programs,” said Kelvin Sampson, men’s head basketball coach at the University of Oklahoma. “We’ve always considered OSU to be the ultimate competitor, but right now it’s time to put down the rivalry banner and support OSU — I wish there was something I could do.
“I wish our team could go down there and meet with the team and hold hands and give them bear hugs and comfort them, because that’s what they need right now,” Sampson said.
Dave Bliss, men’s head basketball coach at Baylor University, said he was shocked by the event.
“This takes your breath away,” Bliss said. “I feel tremendous remorse not only for the families of the victims, but for everyone close to and affiliated with OSU.
“We just want OSU to know that they have our support.”
Iowa State University men’s head basketball coach Larry Eustachy called Saturday’s accident “one of the all-time tragedies.”
“I personally feel closer to the Oklahoma State program than any other program in our league,” Eustachy said. “I can’t fathom the pain the OSU community is feeling right now.
“This is the saddest day I have experienced in college basketball — I can sense it from our players and the mood at the arena. Our prayers are for the families of all those involved,” he said.
Quin Snyder, men’s head basketball coach at the University of Missouri, summed up his thoughts about a tragedy that brings everything into perspective.
“We are deeply saddened by Saturday’s tragic accident,” Snyder said. “We are reminded of the relative insignificance of the game of basketball.”
At a place known for rollicking parties and a cut-loose attitude, popular OSU hangout Eskimo Joe’s was unusually somber Saturday, as students gathered around television news reports, drank and reflected.
The band playing that night, Resident Funk, took time out of their musical set to play “Amazing Grace” and pause for a moment of silence.
“It’s all a little less happy around here tonight,” said an Eskimo Joe’s staff member. “I guess unhappy’s just the word for it.”
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