on friday, october 2, 1970 at 1:14 p.m. mdt in colorado a chartered martin 4-0-4 airliner crashed into a mountain eight miles (13 km) west of silver plume. it happened in clear weather. the twin-engined propliner carried 37 passengers and a crew of three; 29 were killed at the scene and two later died of their injuries while under medical care. it was operated by golden eagle aviation.