LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- University of Evansville plans to remember the lives lost in a plane crash 46 years ago.
Air Indiana Flight 216 carrying the university's men's basketball team crashed shortly after take off on Dec. 13, 1977. The crash resulted in the deaths of 29 people, including the team's coach Bobby Watson, 14 players, 11 team friends and a plane crew of five.
After leaving from Evansville's Dress Regional Airport in route to Nashville, the plane crashed around 90 seconds following take off. The National Transportation Safety Board reported improper weight distribution and failure of the crew to remove external safety locks were contributing factors to the crash.
Only one team member wasn't on board when the plane crashed: David Furr. He had an ankle injury so he wasn't on board the flight, but Furr died two weeks after the plane crash when he and his brother died in a car crash.
The university will hold a memorial on Dec. 13 that open to the public. There will be a service hosted at noon at Memorial Plaza on campus, which has a memorial known as "Weeping Basketball." All 29 names will be read at the memorial.
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