Kobe Bryant was killed Sunday along with four other people in a helicopter crash in Calabasas (CA). Other athletes who died in flight accidents.
Corey Lidle
Yankees pitcher Corey Lidle died Oct. 11, 2006 when a plane he was piloting crashed into an apartment building.
Garnet “Ace” Bailey
Garnet “Ace” Bailey, director of pro scouting for the L.A. Kings and Mark Bavis, an amateur scout, passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 175 — the second plane to hit the World Trade Center.
Mari Rae Sopper: UCSB gymnastics coach
Mari Rae Sopper, gymnastics coach at UC Santa Barbara, a passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon in Washington.
Oklahoma State basketball players
Oklahoma State basketball players Dan Lawson and Nate Fleming, and six team staffers and broadcasters, in Byers, Colo.
Davey Allison
NASCAR driver Davey Allison died July 13, 1993, the day after a helicopter he was piloting crashed at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Payne Stewart
Oct. 25, 1999: Payne Stewart, two-time U.S. Open golf champion, near Mina, S.D.
Rodney Culver
May 11, 1996: Rodney Culver, San Diego Chargers running back, in Florida Everglades.
Brook Berringer
April 18, 1996: Brook Berringer, Nebraska quarterback, two days before the NFL draft, in Raymond, Neb.
Alan Kulwicki
April 1, 1993: Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR’s 1992 champion, in Blountville, Tenn.
Nick Vanos
Aug. 16, 1987: Nick Vanos, Phoenix Suns center, in Romulus, Mich.
Memphis State football coaches
Dec. 12, 1983: Rex Dockery, Memphis State football coach, with offensive coordinator Chris Faros and defensive back Charles Greenhill, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
U.S. amateur boxing team
March 14, 1980: 14 members of the U.S. amateur boxing team in Warsaw, Poland.
Bo Rein
Jan. 11, 1980: Bo Rein, LSU football coach, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thurman Munson
Aug. 2, 1979: Thurman Munson, Yankees catcher, in Akron, Ohio.
Evansville basketball team and coach Bobby Watson
Dec. 13, 1977: 14 University of Evansville basketball players and coach Bobby Watson in Evansville, Ind.
Wendell Ladner
June 24, 1975: Nets forward Wendell Ladner, in New York.
Roberto Clemente
Dec. 31, 1972: Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, from San Juan, Puerto Rico en route to Nicaragua to aid earthquake victims.
Marshall University: 36 football players
Nov. 14, 1970: 36 Marshall University football players, in Huntington, W.Va.
Rocky Marciano
Aug. 31, 1969: Rocky Marciano (right), world heavyweight boxing champion, in Newton, Iowa.
Rafael Osuna
June 4, 1969: Rafael Osuna, 1963 U.S. Open Tennis Champion, in Mexico.
Tony Lema, golfer
July 24, 1966: Tony Lema, 1964 British Open champion, in Munster, Ind.
Ken Hubbs of Chicago Cubs
Feb. 15, 1964: Ken Hubbs, Chicago Cubs second baseman, in Utah.
Marcel Cerdan
Oct. 27, 1949: Marcel Cerdan, former world middleweight boxing champion, en route to fight Jake LaMotta in Spain.
Nile Kinnick
June 2, 1943: Nile Kinnick, Iowa’s 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, in the Gulf of Paria.
Knute Rockne
March 31, 1931: Knute Rockne, Notre Dame football coach, in Kansas.
