Oklahoma State women’s basketball coaches die in plane crash

  • Associated Press
  • Friday, November 18, 2011 10:46am
  • SportsSports

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna were killed when the single-engine plane they were riding in during a recruiting trip crashed in steep terrain in central Arkansas, the university confirmed Friday morning.

The university said the pair died in the crash around 7 p.m. Thursday night in the Winona Wildlife Management Area near Perryville, about 45 miles west of Little Rock. The plane’s pilot and another passenger also died in the crash, but their names were not immediately released. OSU said they were not affiliated with the university.

“There were no survivors,” the university statement said.

The crash is the second major tragedy for the sports program in about a decade. In January 2001, 10 men affiliated with the university’s men’s basketball team died in a Colorado plane crash, prompting the university to require that planes used by the school’s sports team undergo safety checks before travel. It wasn’t immediately clear if the same policy applied to travel by coaches or administrators.

Oklahoma State canceled its women’s college basketball home games set for Saturday and Sunday. The school’s second-ranked college football team plays Friday night at Iowa State.

University president Burns Hargis credited Budke with elevating the team in a tough program. Serna, he said, set a good example for the players.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna and the other victims. Kurt was an exemplary leader and a man of character who had a profound impact on his student-athletes,” Hargis said. “Miranda was an up-and-coming coach and an outstanding role model for our young ladies.”

OSU hired Budke from Louisiana Tech seven years ago and the coach compiled a 112-83 record at the school. This year’s team was 1-0 after defeating Rice on Sunday.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending investigators, and that it could take nine months to determine the cause of the crash.

FAA records showed that the plane was built in 1964 and registered to Olin Branstetter of Ponca City, Okla. A telephone message left on an answering machine at a number for Branstetter wasn’t immediately returned Friday morning.

The plane that crashed in 2001, a Beechcraft King Air 200, had been donated by a school booster.

On Jan. 27, 2001, one of three planes carrying players and others connected to the OSU men’s basketball team crashed in a field 40 miles east of Denver as the Cowboys returned from a game at Colorado. The crash occurred about 35 minutes after the plane took off in light snow.

An NTSB report cited a power loss aboard the plane and said the pilot suffered disorientation while flying the plane manually with still-available instruments.

After that crash, the university began requiring a firm to check out the condition of any plane used by a school sports team. It wasn’t immediately known if that policy also applied to planes that carry only coaches or other school employees, or if the plane the women’s coaches were traveling in had undergone an independent check.

Thursday night, the weather near the crash site was clear with temperatures in the upper 30s to mid-40s.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Stanwood sophomore outside hitter Harper Neyens hits the ball during a District 1 3A quarterfinals match against Monroe in Stanwood, Wash., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. The Spartans won 3-1. (Taras McCurdie / The Herald)
Spartans volleyball tames Bearcats

Stanwood’s 54 kills help top Monroe for third time and advance to semis.

Prep roundup for Tuesday, Nov. 12

Arlington and GP volleyball both one win away from state

Jackson wins district swimming and diving championship.

Glacier Peak and Jackson each send eight competitors to state.

Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services
The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Justin Danforth (17) shoots against Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord (35) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Kraken score 5 unanswered to dump Blue Jackets

Seattle rebounds from rough first period.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Nov. 3-9

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Nov. 3-9. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Tips Week in Review: Everett wins two, loses one

The Silvertips fall to Tri-City but rebound against Calgary, Red Deer.

WSU jumps three spots to No. 18 in second round of CFP rankings

Cougars odds of making the college football playoffs remain slim.

Seahawks offensive lineman Abe Lucas, an Archbishop Murphy High School graduate, prepares to block against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 30, 2023. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks).
Abraham Lucas could return to Seahawks lineup Sunday

The Archbishop Murphy graduate has been recovering from a knee injury.

Tyrel Dodson (0), who was waived by the Seahawks on Monday, lines up against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks waive starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson

Seattle’s leading tackler was let go to get other players in the lineup.

Arlington senior running back Caleb Reed stiff arms a North Creek player during a district winner-to-state, loser-out Round of 32 game at John C. Larson Stadium in Arlington, Wash., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The Eagles won 56-35. (Taras McCurdie / The Herald)
Arlington football plows through North Creek, 56-35

Caleb Reed’s four rushing touchdowns help Eagles advance to state.

Lake Stevens’ Jayshon Limar puts his arms in the air in celebration after scoring a touchdown during the 4A district game against Tahoma on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep football roundup for Friday, Nov. 8

Five local football teams advance to state playoffs.

Cascade's Jacob Hopkins (top step) poses with coaches, teammates, family and friends after winning his third straight state title in the boys ambulatory race at Sun Willows Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Steve Bertrand)
Cascade’s Hopkins wins third prep state cross country title.

Arlington High School girls take home fourth-place team trophy

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.