Historical eventOctober 21970

Wichita State University football team plane crash

An aircraft carrying the Wichita State University football team, administrators, and supporters crashes in Colorado, killing 31 people.

Everything on October 2Original source

In context

When
Friday, October 2 197056 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1970s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1970.

What happened

An aircraft carrying the Wichita State University football team, administrators, and supporters crashes in Colorado, killing 31 people.

October 2 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1970Wichita State University football team plane crash
  2. 1996Freedom of Information Act (United States)
  3. 2002D.C. sniper attacks
  4. 2004Parkrun
  5. 2005Typhoon Longwang
  6. 2006West Nickel Mines School shooting
  7. 2007Roh Moo-hyun
  8. 20162014–2016 Oromo protests
  9. 2018The Washington Post
  10. 2019Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
  11. 20252025 Manchester synagogue attack

Also in 1970

  • May 11Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas, was struck by a tornado that left 26 people dead.
  • September 9Popular Front for the Liberation of PalestineA British airliner is hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and flown to Dawson's Field in Jordan.
  • September 17AmmanThe Jordanian army entered Amman as part of operations to oust Palestinian fedayeen from the country in events later known as Black Septe…
  • September 51970 Italian Grand PrixDuring the practice session of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza Circuit, Jochen Rindt was killed and subsequently became motor racing's on…
  • September 5Vietnam WarVietnam War: Operation Jefferson Glenn begins: The United States 101st Airborne Division and the South Vietnamese 1st Infantry Division i…
  • November 17Vietnam WarVietnam War: Lieutenant William Calley goes on trial for the My Lai Massacre.
  • November 17Luna programmeLuna programme: The Soviet Union lands Lunokhod 1 on Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on the Moon. This is the first roving remote-controlled…
  • November 5Military Assistance Command, VietnamThe Military Assistance Command, Vietnam reports the lowest weekly American soldier death toll in five years (24).

Everything we record for 1970 →

Sources

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“Wichita State University football team plane crash”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/wichita-state-university-football-team-plane-crash-1970-october-2, accessed October 28, 2026.

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Questions about this entry

When did Wichita State University football team plane crash happen?

October 2 1970 — 56 years ago, on a Friday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

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