Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 25, 1985, a plane crash claimed the lives of three Iowa State cross-country runners, two coaches, and a trainer returning from a runner-up finish at nationals. A tragedy coming on the heels of a triumphant second-place finish at NCAA nationals earlier in the day, the crash stands out as one of the darkest moments in Iowa State athletics history.
Earlier in the day, Iowa State took to Dretzka Park Golf Course in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to participate in the NCAA championships. Despite windy conditions and temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark, the Cyclone women’s cross-country team notched impressive results and scored 98 points to finish second. Coach Ron Renko, initially hoping for a third-place finish, congratulated many of the runners on pushing for personal bests in the tough conditions.
Riding the high of the second-place finish, the Iowa State men’s and women’s cross-country teams loaded into three planes for the return flight to Iowa. The third and final plane, carrying Renko and assistant coach Pat Moynihan, as well as runners Susan Baxter, Sheryl Maahs, Julie Rose, and trainer Stephanie Streit, took off from Milwaukee en route to Ames. During the flight, icy conditions in Ames saw the flights diverted to Des Moines.
Ice from freezing drizzle built up on the wings of the third plane, and the plane pitched violently as it approached Des Moines. At 5:41 p.m., the pilot radioed the tower and received instruction to regain altitude. However, he radioed back: “I can’t do anything. I’m in the trees now.” The plane crashed into a residential neighborhood just 2.5 miles from the airport. Flames climbed as high as thirty feet, thwarting rescue attempts. The other team members on the first two planes waited at the airport and eventually received the tragic news about the third plane’s crash. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
