Safety board urges plan for school team travel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Investigators probing the deadly crash of a plane carrying members of a college basketball team in 2001 have recommended that U.S. schools develop universal standards to ensure closer oversight of how athletes are transported to and from events.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not fault Oklahoma State University for the crash of a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 200 nearly two years ago that killed 10 people after a game in Colorado. However, investigators found gaps in record-keeping at the school on the pilot and the plane.

"OSU did not provide any significant oversight for the accident flight," the safety board concluded.

The aircraft was donated to the university by an oil company executive to transport the basketball team to Colorado. The pilot -- who was killed along with another crew member, two players and other team personnel -- had flown for the school's athletic department several times.

The safety board blamed pilot error and an electrical system failure for the accident.

But it concluded that athletic travel procedures at Oklahoma State, a large university with big-time football and basketball programs, were probably similar to those at many schools of the same size and urged new standards.

In a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which regulates most college athletics, the safety board urged the NCAA review a new OSU travel policy and develop a model plan that can be followed by schools nationwide.

Thousands of collegiate athletes, coaches, and athletic personnel fly charter aircraft to games each year.

Oklahoma State now has a consultant with expertise in aircraft operations, safety and aircraft certification.

The school also requires pilots and co-pilots to meet a more stringent set of standards and imposes stricter guidelines for flight plans and operating in bad weather or turbulence.

Student athletes, for the most part, no longer fly on donated aircraft.

Story Tools		Subscribe to Time for $1.99

Adults holding their own spelling bees • Businesses tap student designers • An emotional graduation for Holocaust survivors • Parents unite against military recruiting

CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards • Bin Laden deputy sends message • U.S. House votes to keep U.N. dues • Iran poll to go to run-off