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Linfield grad dies in Tokyo crash
Published March 25, 2009, with supplemental information added April 2009 by Wildcatville.
Published March 25, 2009, with supplemental information added April 2009 by Wildcatville.
By STARLA POINTER
Of the McMinnville, Ore., News-Register
Kevin Mosley, a 1977 Linfield College graduate, died Monday when the cargo plane he was piloting crashed and burned on the runway at Tokyo International Airport. 
The veteran Federal Express pilot was one of two victims. His co-pilot, the only other person on the plane, also perished.
The crash occurred as Mosley was attempting to land an MD-11, an expanded version of McDonnell Douglas' DC-10 transcontinental passenger plane. He and his co-pilot had taken off from FedEx's main air hub in China.
A Hillsboro High School graduate, Mosley, 54, attended Linfield from fall 1973 through his graduation in 1977 with a degree in physical education.
He pitched all four years for the Wildcat baseball team. The Linfield football media guide shows that he also lettered in football in 1974, his sophomore year.
Mosley and his wife, Marissa, a 2000 Linfield continuing education graduate, were living in his hometown of Hillsboro at the time of his death. They have two adult daughters and a granddaughter.
McMinnville's Ad Rutschman, who coached Mosley, a pitcher, on the varsity baseball team for four years, heard the news when he was in Hood River with the McMinnville High School girls' softball team.
"Kevin bought me a pair of binoculars back when he was flying in the Marines. He got them in Hong Kong or somewhere overseas," Rutschman recalled. "I was using the binoculars, looking out the hotel window in Hood River, when the news came on TV."
Rutschman remembered the former Wildcat as a very nice person. Mosley had been flying since was in high school, he said, and he joined the military after college to learn to pilot big planes.
"He had so much experience flying," Rutschman said. "He landed on aircraft carriers! The wind must have been a factor in the crash."
"He had so much experience flying," Rutschman said. "He landed on aircraft carriers! The wind must have been a factor in the crash."
That's what investigators are saying, as well.
Officials said preliminary investigation shows a weather-related phenomenon known as wind shear may have caused the wide-body cargo carrier to flip and crash.
Federal Express owns the largest fleet of MD-11s in the world. According to aviation sources, several MD-11s have flipped in like fashion while attempting to land.
Mosley’s brother, Shawn Mosley, Linfield Class of 1970, also played baseball and football for Ad Rutschman at Linfield. And, Shawn played the same sports for the same coach at Hillsboro High School, too.
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Flying was life for Hillsboro pilot who died in FedEx crash
Flying was life for Hillsboro pilot who died in FedEx crash
Posted by Wendy Owen
The Oregonian March 23, 2009
Kevin Mosley got his pilot's license when he was 16 years old and flew his Hillsboro High School friends in a rented Piper Cub to see the ocean.
He landed fighter jets on an aircraft carrier in the open seas, flew passenger jets for Horizon and, finally, cargo jets for FedEx.
Mosley, 54, died Monday as he attempted to land a FedEx jet at Tokyo's main international airport. His co-pilot, Anthony Stephen Pino, 49, of San Antonio was also killed.
Investigators believe a sudden gust of wind or "wind shear" may have been a factor. Footage from security cameras at Narita Airport showed the plane touch down and bounce before it flipped on its side and over.
Mosley had found his niche flying cargo jets for FedEx for the past decade. He preferred them to ferrying passengers, said his friend Tom Jones of Hillsboro.
"It always scared him to fly with people because what if something happened," Jones said. "That's why his dream was to fly cargo."
Jones said he remembers Mosley's schedule took him on an 11-day route from Alaska to Asia.
Then he got to spend time with his wife, Marissa, two grown daughters and a granddaughter.
His mother, Patricia Fullenwider, said her son was devoted to them and made sure he called his wife whenever he traveled. She said Mosley spoke with his wife Sunday morning before his scheduled takeoff.
"He was outstanding," said Fullenwider, 81. "They adored him and he adored them. He called his wife every night and he called me a couple of times a week. He did everything for me that he could possibly do."
Mosley played baseball and football at Hillsboro High School, graduating in 1973. He later played baseball at Linfield College before joining the Marines.
Mike McCallen was his catcher on the high school baseball team, where Mosley was known for his fastball.
"He'd take us flying," McCallen said. In the 1970s, it didn't cost much to rent a plane at the Hillsboro Airport. "We'd fly over our houses and stuff."
Mosley's friends used to tease him about being so serious when he flew them around, but he had good reason.
"That was going to be his life," Jones said. "When I heard this morning ... knowing Kevin, he probably used every ounce of energy trying to keep that plane straight."
Jones said he last saw Mosley about a year ago. They got together with a few other guys to play poker, and Jones planned to call him with an invitation to the next game. Mosley usually won.
"He was an outgoing guy, full of energy," Jones said. "He just enjoyed life."
Unusually strong gusts of about 47 mph were blowing through Narita city around the time of the crash, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
But Kazuhito Tanakajima, an aviation safety official at the Transport Ministry, said the wind speed at the time of the accident was not enough to be considered dangerous, unless wind shear was involved. He said there was a head wind of about 45 mph, and a crosswind of about 7 mph.
FedEx said it was investigating the cause of the accident.
"We will continue to work closely with the applicable authorities as we seek to determine the cause for this tragic incident," it said in a statement.
Noelle Crombie of The Oregonian staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=2892
Ex-Wildcat dies in fiery plane crashMarch 24, 2009 from Linfield Sports Information
Former Linfield baseball and football player Kevin Mosley, 54, died Monday as he attempted to land a FedEx jet at Tokyo's main international airport.
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http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=2892
Ex-Wildcat dies in fiery plane crashMarch 24, 2009 from Linfield Sports Information
Former Linfield baseball and football player Kevin Mosley, 54, died Monday as he attempted to land a FedEx jet at Tokyo's main international airport.
His co-pilot, Anthony Stephen Pino, 49, of San Antonio was also killed.
Mosley got his pilot's license when he was 16 years old and flew his Hillsboro High School friends in a rented Piper Cub to see the ocean.
He landed fighter jets on an aircraft carrier in the open seas, flew passenger jets for Horizon and, finally, cargo jets for FedEx.
Investigators believe a sudden gust of wind or "wind shear" may have been a factor. Footage from security cameras at Narita Airport showed the plane touch down and bounce before it flipped on its side and over.
Mosley had found his niche flying cargo jets for FedEx for the past decade. He preferred them to ferrying passengers, said his friend Tom Jones of Hillsboro.
"It always scared him to fly with people because what if something happened," Jones said.
"That's why his dream was to fly cargo." Jones said he remembers Mosley's schedule took him on an 11-day route from Alaska to Asia. Then he got to spend time with his wife, Marissa, two grown daughters and a granddaughter.
His mother, Patricia Fullenwider, said her son was devoted to them and made sure he called his wife whenever he traveled. She said Mosley spoke with his wife Sunday morning before his scheduled takeoff.
"He was outstanding," said Fullenwider, 81. "They adored him and he adored them. He called his wife every night and he called me a couple of times a week. He did everything for me that he could possibly do."
Mosley played baseball and football at Hillsboro High School, graduating in 1973. He later played baseball and football at Linfield, graduating in 1977, before joining the Marines.
He lettered four times in baseball as a pitcher, posting a 10-7 win-loss record and a 2.94 earned run average. He ranks sixth in the Linfield career record book for games finished (17) and is tied for 16th for most complete games (10). He also lettered in football in 1974 as a defensive back.
Mosley's friends used to tease him about being so serious when he flew them around, but he had good reason. "That was going to be his life," Jones said. "When I heard this morning ... knowing Kevin, he probably used every ounce of energy trying to keep that plane straight."
Jones said he last saw Mosley about a year ago. They got together with a few other guys to play poker, and Jones planned to call him with an invitation to the next game. Mosley usually won.
"He was an outgoing guy, full of energy," Jones said. "He just enjoyed life."
FedEx said it is investigating the cause of the accident.
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http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=2896
Message from the Kevin Mosley family, March 26, 2009 via Linfield Sports Information
Dear Linfield Family, Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the wonderful outpouring of love and support during this tragedy. We cannot thank everyone enough for all of the flowers, plants, food, visits, phone calls, e-Mails, blogs, cards, heartfelt letters and the many other expressions of support.
….
He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and took part in Wildcat Open golf tournaments, Linfield's top athletic-related fund-raising event.
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http://www.linfield.edu/sports/release.php?id=2896
Message from the Kevin Mosley family, March 26, 2009 via Linfield Sports Information
Dear Linfield Family, Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the wonderful outpouring of love and support during this tragedy. We cannot thank everyone enough for all of the flowers, plants, food, visits, phone calls, e-Mails, blogs, cards, heartfelt letters and the many other expressions of support.
….
He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and took part in Wildcat Open golf tournaments, Linfield's top athletic-related fund-raising event.
..........
Heartfelt thank you from Marissa Mosley
Those who made a memorial donation in Kevin’s memory received a heartfelt thank you card dated May 20, 2010, from his widow, Marissa Mosley. She said his support of the Wildcats continued throughout his life, “So I wanted a lasting memorial for him and leave a legacy for Linfield athletics at the same time.
“With the help of family and friends, the Linfield Wildcats softball batting cage facility was built in honor of Kevin. Even though Kevin was more closely tied to football and baseball, I ultimately decided that the softball batting cages would be a proper tribute.
“Kevin … played softball the first year after we married. Shawn (Kevin’s brother) started the softball program at Dallas High in Oregon where he taught and coached until he retired.
“Stephanie (Kevin’s niece) participated in the Linfield softball program. Kevin taught Karissa (our granddaughter) how to hit softballs and play catch. So I was so proud that she played this year for her high school softball team quite fittingly also called the Wildcats and did very well.
“Not to be outdone, Megan (Kevin’s grandniece) though only 6, also plays softball. So, there is certainly a family tradition of softball.
“The Linfield Wildcats softball batting cages were officially dedicated” March 7, 2010 “which would have been Kevin’s 55th birthday. The softball team played two games after the dedication. It was evident that they were truly impacted by the gift” – it “went on to win both games by a large margin!
“In addition to giving the team a competitive edge, these batting cakes will stand as a lasting tribute to Kevin now and for many years to come.
“In fact, it looked they are already doing wonders for the program – the team won the NCAA Division III Regional Championship in Eau Claire, Wisconsin,” May 24, 2010. “They entered the playoffs ranked Nov. 1 in the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association poll with a record for fewest losses in one season and had set a new standing for best winning percentage.”
Kevin Kyle Mosely
Linfield College
Kevin was a member of Linfield’s class of 1977. He was very involved in Linfield Athletics, majoring in physical education and lettering in both football and baseball. He was awarded the most inspirational player for the baseball team. He lettered 4 times in baseball as a pitcher, posting a 10-7 win-loss record and a 2.94 earned run average. He ranks 6th in the Linfield career record book for games finished (17) and is tied for 16th for most complete games (10). He also lettered in football in 1974 as a defensive back.
Those who made a memorial donation in Kevin’s memory received a heartfelt thank you card dated May 20, 2010, from his widow, Marissa Mosley. She said his support of the Wildcats continued throughout his life, “So I wanted a lasting memorial for him and leave a legacy for Linfield athletics at the same time.
“With the help of family and friends, the Linfield Wildcats softball batting cage facility was built in honor of Kevin. Even though Kevin was more closely tied to football and baseball, I ultimately decided that the softball batting cages would be a proper tribute.
“Kevin … played softball the first year after we married. Shawn (Kevin’s brother) started the softball program at Dallas High in Oregon where he taught and coached until he retired.
“Stephanie (Kevin’s niece) participated in the Linfield softball program. Kevin taught Karissa (our granddaughter) how to hit softballs and play catch. So I was so proud that she played this year for her high school softball team quite fittingly also called the Wildcats and did very well.
“Not to be outdone, Megan (Kevin’s grandniece) though only 6, also plays softball. So, there is certainly a family tradition of softball.
“The Linfield Wildcats softball batting cages were officially dedicated” March 7, 2010 “which would have been Kevin’s 55th birthday. The softball team played two games after the dedication. It was evident that they were truly impacted by the gift” – it “went on to win both games by a large margin!
“In addition to giving the team a competitive edge, these batting cakes will stand as a lasting tribute to Kevin now and for many years to come.
“In fact, it looked they are already doing wonders for the program – the team won the NCAA Division III Regional Championship in Eau Claire, Wisconsin,” May 24, 2010. “They entered the playoffs ranked Nov. 1 in the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association poll with a record for fewest losses in one season and had set a new standing for best winning percentage.”
Kevin Kyle Mosely
Linfield College
Kevin was a member of Linfield’s class of 1977. He was very involved in Linfield Athletics, majoring in physical education and lettering in both football and baseball. He was awarded the most inspirational player for the baseball team. He lettered 4 times in baseball as a pitcher, posting a 10-7 win-loss record and a 2.94 earned run average. He ranks 6th in the Linfield career record book for games finished (17) and is tied for 16th for most complete games (10). He also lettered in football in 1974 as a defensive back.
