1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash

On August 31, 1969, a Cessna 172 crashed in Newton, Iowa, killing world heavyweight champion boxer Rocky Marciano and two others.[1]

1969 Newton Cessna 172 crash
A Cessna 172 similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
DateAugust 31, 1969 (1969-08-31) at 8:05 pm
SiteNewton, Iowa
Aircraft
Aircraft typeCessna 172
RegistrationN3149X
Flight originMidway Airport
DestinationDes Moines, Iowa
Passengers2
Crew1
Fatalities3
Survivors0

The flight

On Sunday, August 31, 1969 at 8:05 pm CDT, the Cessna 172 with registration number N3149X crashed in a pasture near Newton, Iowa,[1][2] approximately thirty miles (50 km) east of Des Moines.

It had departed from Chicago Midway Airport at 6 pm (1800 hrs) and was en route to Des Moines, where Marciano was to celebrate his 46th birthday at a party the next day.[2][3][4] This was to be a surprise party for him; he was to give a speech in support of his friend, Louis Fratto's son.[3] Marciano intended to later fly to Florida to celebrate his birthday at home with his family.[3]

Accident

A storm system was building in the Des Moines region at the time of the accident. The airplane's pilot was 37-year-old Glenn Belz, who was not experienced with night flying or flying during bad weather. Belz decided to head to Newton instead of continuing to Des Moines as planned, which would have risked him losing his pilot's license.[3] The airplane was also short of fuel at the time of the crash.[3]

Witness Coleen Swarts observed the airplane reverse its course and then heard a loud sound as it crashed.[5]

References
  1. "Unbeaten Rocky Marciano loses life in plane crash". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. September 1, 1969. p. 19.
  2. "Newton, IA Rocky Marciano Killed In Plane Crash, Aug 1969". gendisasters.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  3. "Rocky Marciano". check-six.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  4. Harro Ranter. "ASN Aircraft accident 31-AUG-1969 Cessna 172H N3149X". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  5. "Rocky Marciano is Killed in a Plane Crash". World History Project. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
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