Settlement reached in lawsuit over plane crash that killed Oklahoma State University coaches: Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee B, N7746W

PONCA CITY — Families of two Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coaches killed in a November 2011 plane crash have reached settlement terms in their Kay County lawsuits filed against the estate of the deceased pilot and his wife, attorneys confirmed Tuesday.

Terms of the agreements are confidential, attorneys Jason Roselius, of Oklahoma City, and Scott Jackson, of Ponca City, said Tuesday.

Roselius was representing Shelley Budke, the widow of deceased head women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke, and Jackson was representing the parents of deceased assistant coach Miranda Serna.

Jackson said Serna’s family has agreed to tentative settlement terms with the insurance company of deceased pilot Olin Branstetter, but it is not yet final.

Budke, Serna and Olin and Paula Branstetter all died died Nov. 17, 2011, when the small airplane they were riding in crashed in Arkansas while the coaches were on a recruiting trip.

Budke was 50 at the time of the crash and Serna was 36.

The Branstetters, both OSU graduates and longtime supporters, frequently volunteered to take coaches on recruiting trips.

Budke’s widow and children previously received workers’ compensation awards, which were paid by OSU, since the university is self-insured.

Source Article:  http://newsok.com

Kurt Budke and Miranda Serna 

http://registry.faa.gov/N7746W

NTSB Identification: CEN12FA072
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, November 17, 2011 in Perryville, AR
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/27/2013
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-180, registration: N7746W
Injuries: 4 Fatal.

NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

About 2 hours after departure, radar data tracked the airplane at 7,000 feet before the airplane then initiated a right, descending turn before disappearing from radar. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low, descending, making several turns, before impacting terrain. Impact signatures were consistent with a steep, nose-low attitude. An examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The reason for the pilot's loss of control could not be determined.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's loss of control in flight.

http://www.ntsb.gov