Key Facts about the 1977 Evansville Plane Crash:
Date: The crash occurred on December 13, 1977.
Location: The plane crashed during takeoff from
Dress Regional Airport in Evansville, Indiana.
Victims: All 29 people on board were k!lled, including
the University of Evansville men's basketball team,
their coach, and other team personnel.
Cause: The crash was attributed to a combination of
factors including rain, fog, and the plane's a͟ge.
Warren Alston (31 Mar 1959-1977) Freshman
basketball player
Marvin Robert Bates (1 Sep 1922-1977) Local
Radio Sports Announcer.
Jeffery Paul Bohnert (7 Nov 1956-1977) Student
Manager of University of Evansville basketball team.
Ray A. Comandella (27 Dec 1958-1977) Freshman
basketball player at University of Evansville.
Michael Stephen Duff (3 Sep 1959-1977) After
moving from Shawnteetown, IL at the start of
the sophomore year, Mike led Eldorado, IL on a
3 year tournament odyssey that saw the Eldorado
Eagles finish 4th in 1975 and third in 1977. Mike
held the position of Class A, most points scored
in IHSA tourney history of 252 points. Mike also
held the record of 112 field goals which remained
a tournament record for all classes. Mike had
just started his college career at the University
of Evansville.
Charles Ellis Goad (7 Jul 1916-1977) Fan of
University of Evansville basketball. He
wanted to attend an away game with the
team and was onboard this flight.
Willard Bruce Hartford (6 Jan 1941-1977)
General Manager of National Jet Service, Inc.
Kraig S. Heckendorn (6 Aug 1958-1977)
Basketball player at University of Evansville
Robert W Hudson (18 Jan 1916-1977)
Assistant Athletic Director and Ticket
Manager for University of Evansville.
Michael Douglas Joyner (10 Jun 1958-1977)
Freshman basketball player at University of Evansville.
Maurice Wayne King (13 May 1944-1977)
A fan of University of Evansville Basketball.
He was onboard the flight.
Kevin Porter Kingston (8 May 1956-1977)
Senior basketball player at University of Evansville
Mark Alan “Tank” Kirkpatrick (25 Jan 1956-1977)
Student Manager of University of Evansville
basketball team.
Mark Douglas Kniese (11 May 1957-1977) Athletic
Trainer at University of Evansville.
Gregory Jon Knipping (8 Jun 1950-1977) First Sports
Information Director at the University of Evansville.
Barney Julius Lewis (12 Mar 1959-1977) Freshman
basketball player at University of Evansville.
Stephen Allen Miller (26 Feb 1957-1977) Junior
basketball player at University of Evansville.
Keith Brian Moon (17 Sep 1957-1977) Sophomore
basketball player at University of Evansville.
Ty Van Pham (29 Nov 1935-1977) Pilot of the DC-3.
Bødy recovered the day after the crash.
Gaston Pacheco Ruiz (15 Jun 1942-1977) 1st Officer
of the DC-3. The force of the imp8ct sliced off the
heels of co-pilot Ruiz’s shoes, which were on the
control pedals of the aircraft. Bødy recovered the day
after the crash.
Charles Merlin Shike (9 Feb 1941-1977) University of
Evansville Comptroller. On Board the flight.
Mark Edward Siegel (2 Nov 1958-1977) Freshman
basketball player at University of Evansville.
Greg Smith (2 Jan 1959 – 14 Dec 1977) Freshman
basketball player at University of Evansville. Greg was
alįve when taken to Deaconess Hospıtal where he d*ed
shortly after midnight, five hours after the accıdent.
Pamela Ann “Pam” Smith (21 Nov 1953-1977) Flight
Attendant on the plane.
James Martin Stewart (18 Aug 1948-1977) D*ed in
plane crash. Bødy recovered the day after the crash.
Bryan F Taylor (8 Jan 1957-1977) U of E Basketball
player kılled in U of E plane crash
John Ed Washington (29 Dec 1955-1977) Basketball Player
Robert Lee Watson (8 Aug 1942-1977) Head Coach
University of Evansville Basketball. Possibly also
served with the 101st Airborne Division during the
Vietnam Wa- receiving the Bronze Star Medal, Army
Commendation Medal and five Purple Hearts.
Marion Anthony “Tony” Winburn (18 Mar 1954-1977)
Senior basketball player at University of Evansville.
Ann Knox whose 18-year-old son, David Furr, had
injur3d his ankle trying out as a walk-on for the Aces.
He was stıll hoping to make the team but wasn’t on
board. Two weeks later, almost to the hour, he and
his 16-year-old brother d*ed in a car wreck coming
home from a Southern Illinois holiday basketball
tournament.