Ken Olson, a Southwest Airline Pilot, died in a plane crash July 5, 1997. He was making an emergency landing in a glider race in New Mexico. He had a choice between a farmer's field and a nice, couple-hundred-foot-wide rural road; with a new glider he opted for the road. On final approach, just before touch down, a minivan with a family in it pulled onto the road right in front of him. The only option open to Ken was to veer off the road, striking high tension wires ... this option was fatal for Ken and saved the family.

Source: Chris Brockway Bruner, Memorial Coordinator, 40 Year Reunion Committee