Rhode Lee Michelson ( March 9 , 1943 – February 15 , 1961 ) was an American figure skater . She placed third at the 1961 U.S. Championships , earning her the chance to compete a month later at the World Championships . A hip injury forced Rhode to withdraw from the North American Championships in early February 1961 . She was killed along with the entire 1961 United States Figure Skating team on February 15 , 1961 when Sabena Flight 548 crashed near Brussels , Belgium , en route to the World Championships in Prague , Czechoslovakia . She was just 17 years old when she died
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Rhode Lee Michelson