Ryan asked Diane Sherbloom , who had not intended to compete that season , to skate with Pierce , and Pierce 's parents succeeded in persuading Sherbloom 's . Sherbloom/Pierce won the gold medal at Nationals in Colorado Springs , Colorado and were named in the U.S. team to the 1961 World Championships . En route to the event , their plane , Sabena Flight 548 , crashed near Brussels , Belgium , killing all on board . Pierce was 24 at the time of his death
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Larry Pierce (figure skater)