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Olympians Who Died in Aviation Crashes (130)

Athlete	Nation(s)	Sport(s)	Era	Notes
Youssef Abbas	EGY	BKB	1948—1952
Osman Abdel Hafeez	EGY	FEN	1948—1952	A Lockheed Super Constellation of KLM (Flight 607-E), crashed 180 kilometres west of Shannon, Ireland, killing all 99.
George Ahlgren	USA	ROW	1948	Died in a plane crash.
Émile Albrecht	SUI	ROW	1924	Died in a plane crash.
Joe Angyal	USA	ROW	1948	Killed when his F9F7 Cougar jet plummeted to Point Lookout sandbar in Long Island, New York.
Rômulo Arantes	BRA	SWM	1972—1980	Died in a plane crash.
Luis Arias	ESP	ALP	1952—1960	Died in a helicopter crash.
Luigi Barbesino	ITA	FBL	1912	Died in April of 1941 in the Sicily channel (probably near the city of Sciacca) when he and other five soldiers disappeared while aboard a reconnaissance aircraft – their bodies were never found.
Ray Barkway	GBR	ATH	1948	Died when the plane he was piloting crashed.
José Barrientos	CUB	ATH	1928	Died in an aviation accident.
Bruno Bianchi	ITA	SWM	1960—1964	A Convair CV 440 Metropolitan of the Lufthansa (Flight 005) crashed when go-around shortly after the runway of the Bremen Airport killing all 46 including seven Italian swimmers and their coach.
Hans von Blixen-Finecke, Sr.	SWE	EDR	1912	Killed during a test flight of the Södertelge Werkstäder 16, which caught on fire, killing both von Blixen-Finecke and the pilot.
Joaquín Blume	ESP	GAR	1952	A Douglas DC-3 of Iberia Airlines crashed due to bad weather at the Valdemeca mountains on the way from Barcelona to Madrid, killing all 28 also including his wife.
Sten-Olof Bolldén	SWE	SWM	1936	Killed during a military exercise, when his plane crashed into power lines and he was thrown out of the passenger seat and killed.
Hanns Braun	GER	ATH	1908—1912	Died when his plane crashed with another from his own fighter squadron in the air.
Väinö Bremer	FIN	MPN/MSP	1924	Died when his plane crashed in Kerava while he was approaching Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.
Roberta Brown	USA	ATH	1972	Commercial pilot who died in a crash on one of her flights. Her body was discovered that night.
Skippy Browning	USA	DIV	1952	Died when his Navy jet crashed.
Jörg Bruder	BRA	SAL	1964—1972	A Boeing 707 of Varig crashed after an emergency landing due to smoke in the cabin near Orly (FRA), killing 123 (11 survivors).
Kobe Bryant	USA	BKB	2008—2012	Died in helicopter crash and fire, along with his daughter, Giana, and 7 other people.
Dick Buek	USA	ALP	1952	Died in an airplane crash over Donner Lake (USA), when he was towing water skiers over the lake.
George Calnan	USA	FEN	1920—1932	Died in crash of USS Akron off the coast of New Jersey, the deadliest airship accident in history.
Eduardo Cano	ARG	EVE	1956	Killed when the military plane he was aboard crashed in Argentina.
Efford Chabala	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Wisdom Chansa	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Chen Zhenhe	CHN	FBL	1936	Member of the Chinese Air Force; died when his plane crashed during World War II.
Godfrey Chitalu	ZAM	FBL	1980	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Alex Chola	ZAM	FBL	1980	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Samuel Chomba	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Don Collinge	CAN	FEN	1936
John Cooper	GBR	ATH	1964—1968	A McDonnell Douglas DC-10 of Turkish Airlines (Flight 981) crashed after uncontrolled decompression, killing all 346.
Paolo Costoli	ITA	SWM	1928—1932	A Convair CV 440 Metropolitan of the Lufthansa (Flight 005) crashed when go-around shortly after the runway of the Bremen Airport killing all 46 including seven Italian swimmers and their coach.
Frank Cuhel	USA	ATH	1928	Died in a flying boat crash (Yankee Clipper) in Portugal.
David Cummings	CAN	WRE	1976	Died in ultra-light aircraft accident.
Cliff Cushman	USA	ATH	1960	Killed in action when his plane was shot down in Vietnam.
Georges Damitio	FRA	ATH	1948—1952	Died along with his wife in a plane crash
Lauro De Bosis	ITA	ART	1928
Alberto Della Beffa	ITA	BOB	1952	Died in a Cessna 150 flight from Zurich/Kloten to Agno in the Ticino Canton, that crashed in the Uri Canton. The only two passengers on board were the pilot and Della Beffa, and they both died.
Pavol Demitra	SVK	IHO	2002—2010	Died when a Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed on take-off from Tunoshna Airport.
Carlos Enrique Díaz Sáenz Valiente	ARG	SHO	1948—1952	Died when the plane he piloted himself crashed.
Peter Dix	IRL	SAL	1976	A Boeing 747–121 of Pan American World Airways (Pan Am Flight 103) exploded over Scotland after a bomb was smuggled on board by Libyan agents (Lockerbie bombing) killing all 259 and 11 people on the ground.
Foy Draper	USA	ATH	1936	He was reported missing in action while flying over Tunisia in the Battle of Kassarine Pass on 4 Jan 1943.
Andrew Drew	USA	TEN	1904	Died when trying out a new biplane, when it went out of control.
Sven Erbs	SWE	BOB	1956	Died from injuries caused by a crash with his private aircraft.
Billy Fiske	USA	BOB	1928—1932	First American fighter pilot to be killed in World War II, fighting for Britain, in a crash landing.
Walter Flinsch	GER	ROW	1928—1932	Died during a test flight with a Heinkel He 177.
Wilson de Freitas	BRA	ROW	1936	Died when the plane he was piloting crashed.
Vladimir Fyodorov	URS UZB	FBL	1976	Two Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-134s collided over Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine, killing 178 including the complete football team of Pakhtakor Toshkent.
Francisco Gonzales	PHI	SAL	1960	A Fairchild F-27A crashed near San Ramon (USA) killing all 44. Gonzales shot both the pilot and co-pilot causing the crash.
Sergio De Gregorio	ITA	SWM	1964	A Convair CV 440 Metropolitan of the Lufthansa (Flight 005) crashed when go-around shortly after the runway of the Bremen Airport killing all 46 including seven Italian swimmers and their coach.
David Griffin	CAN	ATH	1928	Died in flying accident. Passenger on ferry plane from Iceland to New Foundland.
Isaac Grünewald	SWE	ART	1932	Died in a plane crash.
Sadi Gülçelik	TUR	BKB	1952	A Lockheed L-1011-200 TriStar of Saudi Arabian Airlines (Flight 163) burned and returned to Ar-Riyadh shortly after the start, the smoke on board killed all 301.
Prince Gustaf Adolf	SWE	EJP/SOK	1933—1947	Died in an aircrash at København Airport.
Ila Ray Hadley	USA	FSK	1960	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
Ray Hadley, Jr.	USA	FSK	1960	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
William Harding	USA	SHO	1932	Killed in a plane crash during war games.
Gösta Horn	SWE	DIV	1928	Died in the crash of a military plane off the northern tip of Öland.
Dumitru Hubert	ROU	BOB	1932	Died piloting an airplane in an airshow in Braşov.
Zdeněk Jarkovský	CZE TCH	IHO	1948	A Beechcraft Model 18 disappeared over the English Channel, all eight died including six Czechoslovak ice hockey players.
Akilles Järvinen	FIN	ATH	1928—1936	Killed in action during a test flight.
Richard Jeffery	GBR	BOB	1948	Died when his 2-seater de Havilland Mosquito crashed onto Brawdy Aerodrome, St. David's, Pembrokeshire.
Jaroslav Jiřík	CZE TCH	IHO	1960—1968	Died in a plane crash in Brno - Medlánky.
Wolfgang Junginger	FRG	ALP	1976	Died when the plane he piloted himself crashed.
Karl Kaschka	AUT	FEN/Referee	1936	Killed in action when his aircraft was shot down.
Octave Lapize	FRA	CTR	1908	Killed in action, when his plane was shot down near Verdun.
Al Lindley	USA	ROW	1924	He died in an airplane crash in 1951.
Stefan Liv	SWE	IHO	2006—2010	Died when a Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed on take-off from Tunoshna Airport.
Leon Lumsdaine	GBR	MPN	1952	Died in a plane crash.
Derby Makinka	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Frank McKinney	USA	SWM	1956—1960	Died in a plane crash.
Gordon Morrison	CAN	ALP	1952	Died 8 July 1972 in a plane crash near Chetwynd, British Columbia
Victor Mucha	AUS	WRE	1956	Died in a plane crash near Albury, New South Wales
Camille Muffat	FRA	SWM	2008—2012	Two Eurocopter AS350 helicopters collided near Villa Castelli, Argentina, killing all 10.
Eston Mulenga	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Günther Mund	CHI	DIV	1948—1956	Died when his light plane crashed.
Richard Mwanza	ZAM	FBL	1988	A Buffalo DHC-5D of Zambian Air Force crashed off the coast of Gabon about 500 metres of from near Libreville, when the left engine burned, killing all 30 including 18 Zambian footballers and their coaches.
Ahmed Fouad Nessim	EGY	SWM/WPO	1948—1952
Felipe Nunag	PHI	BOX	1936	A Douglas C-47 of Philippine Air Force crashed into Mount Manunggal killing all 25 including Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines.
Rafael Osuna	MEX	TEN	1968	A Boeing 727 of Mexicana (Flight 704) crashed after a pilot error on approach near Del Norte International Airport near Monterrey killing all 79.
Gerry Ouellette	CAN	SHO	1956—1968	Died in a plane crash.
Laurie Owen	USA	FSK	1960	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
Maribel Owen	USA	FSK	1960	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
Charley Paddock	USA	ATH	1920—1928	Died in an air crash over Alaska while serving as a captain in the Marines.
Albertus Perk	NED	FEN	1912	Died when his Rumpler C.VIII military plane crashed en route from Den Haag (NED) to København (DEN)
Mark Perrow	RSA	CSP	1992	Died when the light aircraft he was flying crashed.
Miloslav Pokorný	CZE TCH	IHO	1948	A Beechcraft Model 18 disappeared over the English Channel, all eight died including six Czechoslovak ice hockey players.
Pat Porter	USA	ATH	1984—1988	Died when the Beech B-60 he was piloting crashed and burst into flames shortly after take-off.
Maurice Powers	CAN	IHO	1932	Died in a plane crash.
Alick Rennie	RSA	CSL	1992	Died when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed.
Amedee Reyburn	USA	SWM/WPO	1904	Died in an aviation accident.
Mohamed Riad	EGY	FEN	1952	A Lockheed Super Constellation of KLM (Flight 607-E), crashed 180 kilometres west of Shannon, Ireland, killing all 99.
Dud Richards	USA	FSK	1960	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
Guy Richardson	GBR	ROW	1948	Killed when BEA Vanguard from Edinburgh crashed onto the runway at Heathrow Airport.
Frederick Riley	GBR	FBL	1936	Killed in action when his plane was shot down over France.
Thaddäus Robl	GER	CTR	1900	Died when he was riding in a biplane that crashed near Szczecin, Poland.
Dino Rora	ITA	SWM	1964	A Convair CV 440 Metropolitan of the Lufthansa (Flight 005) crashed when go-around shortly after the runway of the Bremen Airport killing all 46 including seven Italian swimmers and their coach.
Clarence von Rosen, Jr.	SWE	EJP/EVE	1932	Killed in an air crash as a passenger during an air show.
Gösta Runö	SWE	MPN	1920	Killed when crashing his Phönix D.III biplane fighter.
Ruslan Salei	BLR	IHO	1998—2010	Died when a Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed on take-off from Tunoshna Airport.
Abdullah Sayedi	IRI	FBL	1964	Died in an accident while working as a pilot
Heini Scheller	SUI	ROW	1952	Died in a crash with a private aircraft.
Hermann Schridde	GER FRG	EJP	1964—1968	Died when his sport plane crashed.
Ralph Schwarz	NED	ROW	1988	Died in a plane crash.
Franz Seidl	AUT	CTR	1900	In 1913 he crashed when approaching the airfield, because he evidently flew a curve too tight, and suffered multiple serious injuries. He died on the transport to a hospital.
Harry Simmons	GBR	ATH	1928	Career Air Force officer, he was killed in a flying accident in World War II.
Harbail Singh	IND	Coach/HOC/Referee	1952—1960	Killed in an airplane crash on his return from refereeing at the 1960 Rome Games
Kārlis Skrastiņš	LAT	IHO	2002—2010	Died when a Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed on take-off from Tunoshna Airport.
Geoff Smale	NZL	SAL	1968	Died when his microlight plane crashed.
Sonny Spencer	GBR	ATH	1924	Died as a RAF aircrew sergeant when a Short Sunderland 3 crashed on a night training flight in the Scottish highlands during World War II.
Karel Stibor	CZE TCH	IHO	1948	A Beechcraft Model 18 disappeared over the English Channel, all eight died including six Czechoslovak ice hockey players.
Ignaz Stiefsohn	AUT	GLD	1936	Died when preparing for the Gliding demonstration event.
Vilibald Šťovík	CZE TCH	IHO	1948	A Beechcraft Model 18 disappeared over the English Channel, all eight died including six Czechoslovak ice hockey players.
Arthur Sweeney	GBR	ATH	1936
Aldo Tait	ITA	GLD	1936	Died when the Twin Otter he was aboard crashed while flying in dense fog.
Jack Taylor	USA	SWM	1952	Died practising aircraft carrier landings near Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Reg Thomas	GBR	ATH	1928—1932	Died in a peacetime flight when the plane he was flying crashed into a nursing home.
Endre Tilli	HUN	FEN/Referee	1952—1956	A Lockheed Super Constellation of KLM (Flight 607-E), crashed 180 kilometres west of Shannon, Ireland, killing all 99.
Chris Timms	NZL	SAL	1984—1988	Died when he was flying in a two-seater plane that crashed in the Firth of Thames (NZL).
Freddie Tomlins	GBR	FSK	1936	Died as a RAF crew-member in fight against a German submarine in/over the British Channel.
Ladislav Troják	TCH SVK	IHO	1936—1948	A Beechcraft Model 18 disappeared over the English Channel, all eight died including six Czechoslovak ice hockey players.
Jack Turnbull	USA	HOC/LAX	1932—1936	His bomber was shot down over Belgium.
Nancy Uranga	CUB	FEN	1976	A Douglas DC-8 of Cubana crashed after terrorist bombing near Brigdetown (BAR), killing all 73.
Josef Vašíček	CZE	IHO	2010	Died when a Yakovlev Yak-42D carrying the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl ice hockey team crashed on take-off from Tunoshna Airport.
Alexis Vastine	FRA	BOX	2008—2012	Two Eurocopter AS350 helicopters collided near Villa Castelli, Argentina, killing all 10.
Maribel Vinson	USA	FSK	1928—1936	A Boeing 707 of Sabena (Flight 548), crashes on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing 73, including the entire United States figure skating team.
Magnus Wegelius	FIN	GAR/SHO	1908—1924	Died in crash of KLM airliner at Croydon Airport in South London, England.
James Welsh	USA	ROW	1952	Died from injuries sustained in the crash of a U-6A Beaver.
Emelyn Whiton	USA	SAL	1952	A Boeing 707 of American Airlines (Flight 1) crashed shortly after the start from New York International (Idlewild) Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) after a short circuit, killing all 95.
Wu Chuanyu	CHN	SWM	1948—1952	Died in a plane crash.