The twin-engined propliner, operated by Golden Eagle aviation, was a replacement vehicle for the much larger and powerful four-engined Douglas DC-6B that had been originally contracted. That DC-6B was damaged in a wind storm just months before the tragedy.
Two Martin 4-0-4 airliners were secured to replace the damaged DC-6B. The two aircraft were dubbed “Gold” and “Black” after the school colors. “Gold,” the plane that later crashed, carried the starting players, head coach, athletic director, their wives, other administrators, boosters, and family. The designated “Black” plane transported the reserve players, assistant coaches, and other support personnel.
A last-minute change to the flight plan sealed the fate of the doomed flight. The President of Golden Eagle Aviation, Ronald G. Skipper (1936–2003), was the pilot flying “Gold.” He was officially acting as First Officer since he was not type rated for the Martin 4-0-4 but piloted it anyway. After refueling in Denver, he notified the passengers that they would take the scenic route over Loveland Ski Area. The other crew flying the “Black” aircraft adhered to the original flight plan. It took a more northerly route, heading north from Denver to southern Wyoming and west using a designated airway. Less scenic, this route allowed more time to gain altitude for the climb over the Rocky Mountains. Their final destination was Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State.
After takeoff in clear weather, the two aircraft took divergent paths away from Denver. The overloaded aircraft, nearing Loveland Pass as it flew up Clear Creek Valley, became trapped in a box canyon and could not climb above the mountain ridges surrounding it on three sides nor complete a reversal turn away from it the sharply rising terrain. At 1:14 pm MDT, the “Gold” aircraft struck trees on the east slope of Mount Trelease, 1,600 feet (490 m) below its summit, and crashed.
The twin-engined propliner, operated by Golden Eagle aviation, was a replacement vehicle for the much larger and powerful four-engined Douglas DC-6B that had been originally contracted. That DC-6B was damaged in a wind storm just months before the tragedy.
Two Martin 4-0-4 airliners were secured to replace the damaged DC-6B. The two aircraft were dubbed “Gold” and “Black” after the school colors. “Gold,” the plane that later crashed, carried the starting players, head coach, athletic director, their wives, other administrators, boosters, and family. The designated “Black” plane transported the reserve players, assistant coaches, and other support personnel.
A last-minute change to the flight plan sealed the fate of the doomed flight. The President of Golden Eagle Aviation, Ronald G. Skipper (1936–2003), was the pilot flying “Gold.” He was officially acting as First Officer since he was not type rated for the Martin 4-0-4 but piloted it anyway. After refueling in Denver, he notified the passengers that they would take the scenic route over Loveland Ski Area. The other crew flying the “Black” aircraft adhered to the original flight plan. It took a more northerly route, heading north from Denver to southern Wyoming and west using a designated airway. Less scenic, this route allowed more time to gain altitude for the climb over the Rocky Mountains. Their final destination was Logan, Utah, for a game against Utah State.
After takeoff in clear weather, the two aircraft took divergent paths away from Denver. The overloaded aircraft, nearing Loveland Pass as it flew up Clear Creek Valley, became trapped in a box canyon and could not climb above the mountain ridges surrounding it on three sides nor complete a reversal turn away from it the sharply rising terrain. At 1:14 pm MDT, the “Gold” aircraft struck trees on the east slope of Mount Trelease, 1,600 feet (490 m) below its summit, and crashed.