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Plane crash tragedy

The NTSB and the CIRA are confirming 7 dead.

Another press conference is scheduled at 5:00 pm.
 
Here are the names of the people killed in the Bloomington plane crash. Click on links for more info-

ISU Basketball Associate Head Coach Torrey Ward
ISU Deputy Athletic Director Aaron Leetch
Terry Stralow, long-time co-owner of The Pub and The Pub II in Bloomington-Normal
Scott Bittner, owner of Bittner's Meat Company in Eureka
Tom Hileman, the pilot of the plane
Jason Jones, former Illinois Wesleyan player, and a financial planner for Wells Fargo in Bloomington
Andy Butler, ISU grad and works in marketing at Sprint
 
Terry and Scott are acquaintenances of mine. Scott is also a neighbor and former golf partner. Both great guys with wonderful families. Sad day around these parts. Rest in peace.
 
My heart goes out to Andy Butler friends and family. Andy included me in some
ISU events and I always felt like a king for the time I was there, and left with a feeling of friendship and pride.
I won't forget, I still owe you a lunch
See you soon my friend
 
jimmyv said:
My heart goes out to Andy Butler friends and family. Andy included me in some
ISU events and I always felt like a king for the time I was there, and left with a feeling of friendship and pride.
I won't forget, I still owe you a lunch
See you soon my friend
Click to expand...

Andy was a business acquaintance of mine, whom I held in very high regard.
 
Article by Sun Times' basketball writer Joe Henricksen about one of the men killed on the tragic plane crash early yesterday-
http://highschoolcubenews.com/2015/04/07/henricksen-loss-best-friend-basketball-junkie/


And a Bloomington Pantagraph article about all the victims-
http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/co...cle_da4ce1ef-1a64-5619-a346-b7648b329e18.html


I did not know any of those men, but for the grace of God, that could have been anyone of us or our families. It is a terrible tragedy. Life is relatively short, and these people all died way too young. I hope it gives everyone a chance to reflect on the important things in life and appreciate and cherish our loved ones.
 
Well said.
This kind of event causes me to recall a Thornton Wilder book from way last century that tries to find answers or account for why tragedies like this happen.
As much as we want an answer or some understanding, sadly, there are no satisfactory answers -

The entire Valley needs to honor their coach in a special way next season...

Maybe some experts can answer - but does a plane like this have data recorders or have a way to analyze what happened so perhaps something can be learned to help prevent future tragedies?
 
Very sad story. Condolences and prayers to all the families involved. This accident recalls a feature story in USA Today a while back about the safety of small planes/jets. Sobering account of lax regulations and oversight in design, maintenance of these planes and the proliferation of counterfeit replacement parts not meeting OEM specifications. The story also discussed how many small craft accidents are summarily attributed to pilot error or weather when faulty design or counterfeit replacement parts are the cause. Of course, the small aircraft industry is a multi billion dollar business which doesn't like too much scrunity.
 
Saw where he was a finalist for the VCU head job after Shaka left too.

Muller & Shaka are fairly close--so Muller knows what he is getting in bringing Ballard in at ISU. David Cason (who played at ISU around the time Muller was there)--was also an assistant coach at Vandy under Stallings--then went to VCU with Shaka--and I think he went with Shaka to Texas? Ballard appears to be a very good hire for ISU to fill the void left by the tragic plane crash.
 
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