Oklahoma State women's coach killed in plane crash

[OJ1414]

Yet another plane tragedy for Oklahoma State. Kurt Budke, an assistant coach and two others were killed Thursday when their plane crashed in central Arkansas.

http://newsok.com/osu-coach-kurt-budke-assistant-coach-miranda-serna-killed-in-plane-crash/article/3624385?custom_click=lead_story_title

 

[Liut]

:'( My heart goes out to the victims' families and the Oklahoma State community.

 

[Armchair_QB]

God damn, that's just awful. Thoughts and prayers to their families & their team. Have to wonder what the recruits they visited on that trip are thinking as well.

Coming back from a recruiting trip.

Coaches do this hundreds of times a year. Probably a drivable trip but because they're in season they jump in a small plane so they can get there and back quickly. Imagine a lot of folks will be thinking about that today.

Before he was at Kansas Terry Allen was the long-time head coach at Northern Iowa. He walked away from a small plane crash in a similar situation. Took a quick trip to see a recruit and was on his way back to Cedar Falls when the plane got into trouble. Luckily the pilot was able to ditch in a corn field and nobody was killed.

And those of us who are old enough remember what happened to Bo Rein.

 

[Football_Bat]

You also have to feel for the girl whom they were recruiting. She'll probably feel responsible for this tragedy for the rest of her life.

 

[FreddiePatek]

You also have to feel for the girl whom they were recruiting. She'll probably feel responsible for this tragedy for the rest of her life.

Yes, this jumped immediately to mind. ... I got to know Kurt during his days at Allen County. He wasn't there long, but man, oh, man ... you knew he was going to be good. RIP, amigo.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula were also on the plane.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Man, this is awful, I can't imagine what they're going through at Okie State today.

I remember talking to the former football coach at Microville Tech after the private plane he was in on a recruiting trip lost power and descended about 5,000 feet on a glide before power was sazfely restored. Ironically, that pilot and his wife later died in a private plane crash, not sure if it was the same plane or not.

The number of politicians, athletes, musicians, etc., who have died in private plane crashes is staggering. Hale Boggs, Ted Stevens, Paul Wellstone, George Mickelson, Ken Hubbs, Cory Lidle, Tony Lema, Otis Redding, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Big Bopper, Jim Croce, one of the Vaughns (?), and I know I'm missing a lot more.

It's faster than driving, but not anywhere near as safe. I won't fly in a private plane and have to be desperate to get into a prop commuter plane, even though it has a qualified pilot and FAA safeguards.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

It's faster than driving, but not anywhere near as safe.

Flying is safer than driving.

According to government stats, about 1 in 7,000 drivers will be killed. For those on airplanes, it's about 1 in 1.5 million.

 

[Wenders]

RIP to a true class act.

 

[Matt Stephens]

One of the most depressing texts I've got in a while. Takes me back, and I'm sure many others, to 2001. So sad. Rest In Peace and prayers for the families.

 

[McNuggetsMan]

It's faster than driving, but not anywhere near as safe.

Flying is safer than driving.

According to government stats, about 1 in 7,000 drivers will be killed. For those on airplanes, it's about 1 in 1.5 million.

YEah but he is talking about small, private planes. Remove the massive commercial flights nad I think the death ratio goes up for small private planes.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

It's faster than driving, but not anywhere near as safe.

Flying is safer than driving.

According to government stats, about 1 in 7,000 drivers will be killed. For those on airplanes, it's about 1 in 1.5 million.

YEah but he is talking about small, private planes. Remove the massive commercial flights nad I think the death ratio goes up for small private planes.

Yes, I'm sure it does. But I'd still wager flying in a private aircraft is safer, statistically, than driving.

 

[DanOregon]

Tragic.

And you have to think that the pilot was doing the coach a favor by flying them on the trip, saving the program a few bucks. But man, 82-years old? I don't know if I've ever been in a car driven by an 82-year old.

 

[playthrough]

That gave me pause too. Hopefully it was mechanical failure or something else outside the pilot's control.

 

[HanSenSE]

Couple of things not adding up here. I'm assuming the senator and Mrs. Senator were flying the plane. But two coaches on the same trip, unless they were looking at different players?

 

[Shaggy]

He was a nice guy in my very limited dealings with him. RIP.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Couple of things not adding up here. I'm assuming the senator and Mrs. Senator were flying the plane. But two coaches on the same trip, unless they were looking at different players?

It's possible it was a high-level kid the assistant was recruiting and the head guy was there to close to deal. That's not that uncommon.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Couple of things not adding up here. I'm assuming the senator and Mrs. Senator were flying the plane.

Correct.

 

[HanSenSE]

Couple of things not adding up here. I'm assuming the senator and Mrs. Senator were flying the plane. But two coaches on the same trip, unless they were looking at different players?

It's possible it was a high-level kid the assistant was recruiting and the head guy was there to close to deal. That's not that uncommon.

That I can see. Granted, I don't know (and a lot olf things I don't want to know) about the recruiting process, but do know we're in the midst of the early signing period, only because we've had to cover three high school ceremonies in the last week.

Either that or I'm looking for something that's not there!

 

[Armchair_QB]

Tragic.

And you have to think that the pilot was doing the coach a favor by flying them on the trip, saving the program a few bucks. But man, 82-years old? I don't know if I've ever been in a car driven by an 82-year old.

There are some 82-year-olds who are healthier in mind, body and spirit than people 20 years younger, but for the most part I'd categorize riding in a car or a plane controlled by an 82-year-old as "attempted suicide."

There's a reason commercial pilots' careers don't make it that far. There are exceptions, but . . .

82 years old.

Flying a plane.

Seems a bit reckless.

Yeah, the only way I'm getting into a plane piloted by somebody that old is if there is another younger pilot on board.