Witnesses say the twin-engine plane that crashed in Colorado, killing two college basketball stars and eight other people, banked hard to the right just before it hit the ground.
The witnesses told investigators that the plane’s engines revved and eased up several times before the fiery crash in a field 40 miles east of Denver Saturday night.
“It sounded like he was flying full-power. Then, I heard a thump and saw a low glow,” said Jon Carrick, who lives two miles southwest of the crash site.
Cesar Ronquillo said the plane’s engines were whining when he heard a loud noise.
Witness Larry Pearson, a dairy farmer, told The Post he saw the plane “hit the ground and – boom! – it was a huge fireball.”
He ran to call 911 and then went back to the plane to see if he could help, “but there was nothing I could do. The whole thing was splattered all over,” he said.
Police Sgt. Craig Coleman said the field was littered with body parts, seats, planning books, basketball shoes and playing cards, among other items.
“It’s a very gruesome and grotesque scene,” Coleman said.
The pilot did not broadcast a distress call before the plane went down.
The crash occurred during a light snowfall, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators said they’re looking into weather related factors – including whether the plane had been de-iced before takeoff.
The Beechcraft King Air 200 was one of three planes carrying the Oklahoma State men’s team back to Stillwater, Okla., after they lost to the Colorado Buffaloes in a Big 12 Conference game at Boulder.
The victims included Oklahoma State players Nate Fleming and Daniel Lawson.
Colorado University basketball coach Ricardo Batton said, “My prayers go out to the families and the people at Oklahoma State.”
Colorado philosophy student Will Meath said, “Man, I had just seen them play. It was a good game, too. It makes me wonder what God is up to.”
The other victims included OSU assistant director of media relations Will Hancock, director of basketball operations Pat Noyes, athletic trainer Brian Luinstra, student manager Jared Weiberg, campus radio station engineer Kendall Durfey and KWTV commentator Bill Teegins from Oklahoma City. Pilots Denver Mills and Bjorn Falistrom were also killed.