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The 2004 plane crash involving television executive Dick Ebersol remains one of the most devastating events in the family’s history. On November 28, 2004, a private charter jet carrying Ebersol and two of his sons crashed during takeoff at Montrose Regional Airport in southwestern Colorado. The accident killed his 14-year-old son, Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, along with the aircraft’s captain and a flight attendant.

Dick Ebersol and his older son, Charles “Charlie” Ebersol, survived with serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact and a subsequent fire, while the tragedy prompted a major investigation into the dangers of aircraft operating in winter weather.

Ebersol, a prominent television executive who had served as chairman of NBC Sports, was returning from Colorado with his sons when the accident occurred. His wife, actress Susan Saint James, was not aboard the aircraft.

The National Transportation Safety Board later identified ice and snow contamination on the aircraft’s wings as the primary cause of the crash.

What Happened in the Dick Ebersol Plane Crash?

The accident occurred on the morning of November 28, 2004, at Montrose Regional Airport in Montrose, Colorado. The aircraft was a Canadair CL-600-2A12 Challenger business jet, registered as N873G and operated by Air Castle Corporation under the Global Aviation name.

The charter flight was scheduled to travel from Montrose to South Bend Regional Airport in Indiana. Six people were aboard: three crew members and three passengers, including Dick Ebersol and his sons Charlie and Teddy.

Snow was falling, and winter weather conditions prevailed as the aircraft attempted to depart. During takeoff, the jet failed to climb safely, struck the ground and continued beyond the runway area. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and the fire that followed.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene, and the injured survivors were transported for medical treatment. The crash immediately became a major news story because of Ebersol’s position in American television and the uncertainty surrounding the fate of his younger son.

Teddy Ebersol Died at 14

The most heartbreaking loss in the accident was the death of Edward “Teddy” Ebersol, Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James’s 14-year-old son.

Teddy had been travelling with his father and older brother when the aircraft crashed. Following the accident, rescue teams searched the wreckage and surrounding area because he could not initially be located.

His body was eventually found beneath the aircraft wreckage. The discovery confirmed that the teenager had died in the accident, turning an already serious aviation emergency into a devastating family tragedy.

Teddy’s death deeply affected his parents and siblings. The loss also became a subject of public attention because of the family’s prominence and the difficult circumstances surrounding the accident.

Dick Ebersol and His Son Charlie Survived

Dick Ebersol suffered serious injuries in the crash but survived. His son Charlie also survived, although he sustained injuries.

Accounts published after the accident described Charlie helping his father escape from the wreckage. The rescue became one of the most widely recalled details of the incident, particularly as the aircraft had caught fire.

The surviving passengers received hospital treatment. Ebersol’s recovery allowed him to return to his professional responsibilities, although the emotional consequences of losing Teddy remained with the family.

The aircraft’s first officer, Eric Wicksell, also survived but sustained serious injuries.

Who Else Died in the Montrose Plane Crash?

Three of the six people aboard the aircraft died.

Alongside Teddy Ebersol, the victims were:

• Luis Alberto Polanco: The aircraft’s captain, who died in the crash.

• Warren Richardson III: The flight attendant, who also lost his life.

• Edward “Teddy” Ebersol: Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James’s 14-year-old son.

The first officer and two passengers survived with serious injuries. Those survivors were Dick Ebersol, Charlie Ebersol and Eric Wicksell.

The crash destroyed the aircraft, and the investigation subsequently focused on the aircraft’s condition, the weather and the flight crew’s preparation before departure.

NTSB Investigation: What Caused the Dick Ebersol Plane Crash?

The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident and issued its final findings in 2006.

Investigators concluded that the flight crew failed to ensure the aircraft’s wings were free of ice or snow contamination that had accumulated while the plane was on the ground. The contaminated wings affected the aircraft’s ability to generate sufficient lift, resulting in an attempted takeoff that ended in a stall and collision with the ground.

The NTSB also identified the pilots’ lack of experience flying in winter weather conditions as a contributing factor.

The investigation highlighted the danger of even small amounts of ice or frost on an aircraft’s wings. Such contamination can significantly affect aerodynamic performance, making it difficult or impossible for an aircraft to take off safely.

Following the investigation, the NTSB issued safety recommendations addressing the detection of wing contamination and pilot training for winter-weather operations.

The findings established that the accident was not simply an unexplained mechanical failure. Investigators identified the failure to ensure the wings were free of ice and snow as the probable cause.

Why Was Susan Saint James Not on the Plane?

Susan Saint James, the actress known for McMillan & Wife and Kate & Allie, was part of the family’s Colorado trip but was not aboard the aircraft when it crashed.

The family had travelled to Colorado, where they had a home in the Telluride area. Saint James was dropped off before Dick Ebersol and their sons continued their journey toward South Bend, Indiana.

This meant that she was not among the six people aboard the aircraft when it attempted to take off from Montrose Regional Airport.

After the crash, Saint James faced the devastating loss of her youngest son while her husband and another son recovered from their injuries.

How the Tragedy Affected the Ebersol Family

The loss of Teddy had a lasting impact on the Ebersol family. In the years following the crash, Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James spoke publicly about their grief and the difficulty of living with the sudden death of their son.

In a 2006 television interview with Oprah Winfrey, Saint James discussed the emotional weight of losing Teddy. The family appeared together publicly as they addressed the tragedy and its effect on their lives.

The accident also brought attention to the importance of family support and the long process of coping with sudden loss. Although Dick Ebersol eventually returned to his career, the death of his son remained a defining personal tragedy.

Dick Ebersol’s Career After the Crash

Before the accident, Dick Ebersol had established himself as one of the most influential executives in American sports broadcasting.

He began his television career at ABC and later became a key figure at NBC. As chairman of NBC Sports, he helped shape the network’s coverage of major sporting events, particularly the Olympic Games.

His work contributed to NBC’s position as a major broadcaster of international sporting competitions. He was widely associated with the network’s Olympic coverage and the expansion of its sports programming.

Despite the injuries he sustained in the 2004 crash, Ebersol eventually returned to his professional life. His career continued to be recognized for its influence on television sports production and broadcasting.

Dick Ebersol Plane Crash: Personal and Incident Details

Remembering Teddy Ebersol

The Montrose plane crash was more than a major aviation accident for the Ebersol family. It was a tragedy that took the life of a 14-year-old boy and left his parents and siblings to cope with an unimaginable loss.

Dick Ebersol survived the crash, as did his older son Charlie, but the death of Teddy remained a painful part of their family history. Susan Saint James also carried the loss of her son while supporting her family through the aftermath.

The NTSB’s findings later provided an explanation of how the aircraft came down, identifying ice and snow contamination on the wings as the central cause. Yet the official investigation could not lessen the personal consequences for those who lost loved ones.

More than two decades later, the 2004 accident remains remembered for the lives lost, the survivors’ injuries and the aviation safety lessons that followed.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly documented accounts and the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation. It is intended for informational and historical purposes. Details concerning private family matters should be treated with respect, and any new personal or memorial information should be confirmed through the family or its authorized representatives.