All 18 athletes of the 1961 U.S. World Figure Skating team and several family members, coaches, and officials died in the crash.

The dead included, most notably, former 9-time U.S. ladies champion Maribel Vinson-Owen and her two daughters, reigning U.S. ladies champion Laurence Owen and reigning U.S. pairs champion Maribel Y. Owen. The loss of the U.S. team was considered so catastrophic for the sport that the 1961 World Championships were cancelled.

The plane, OO-SJB, was a Boeing 707-329 operated by Belgian air operator Sabena, which had departed from Idlewild Airport in New York City. There was no indication of trouble on board the plane until it approached the Brussels airport. The pilot had to circle the airport while waiting for a small plane to clear the runway. Then, according to eyewitnesses, the plane began to climb and bank erratically and crashed suddenly in a field near the hamlet of Berg.

The exact cause of the crash was never determined, although the FAA reported that the most likely hypothesis was failure of the stabilizer adjusting mechanism.

• Gregory Kelley was an United States figure skater who competed in men's singles. He won the junior title at the United States Figure Skating Championships in 1959 and finished ninth at the 1960 World Figure Skating Championships after the top three U.S
  
• Bradley Lord was an United States figure skater who competed in men's singles. He finished fourth at the 1960 United States Figure Skating Championships and then placed sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships after the top three U.S
• Rhode Lee Michelson was an American figure skating. She placed third at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships, earning her the right to compete a month later at the World Figure Skating Championships.
  
• Laurence Rochon Owen was an United States figure skater.
• Douglas Ramsay was an United States figure skater who competed in men's singles. Known as "Dick Button Jr.", he won the junior title at the United States Figure Skating Championships in 1960.
• Stephanie "Steffi" Westerfeld was an American Figure skating.She earned a place on the United States' world team for the World Figure Skating Championships after she finished second at 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships....
  

• Ila Ray Hadley was an American figure skating who competed in pairs and ice dance with her brother Ray Hadley, Jr.. They won the bronze medal in pairs at the 1960 United States Figure Skating Championships and competed in the Winter Olympics and World Figure Skating Championships that year.
  
• Ray Hadley, Jr. was an American figure skating who competed in pairs and ice dance with his sister Ila Ray Hadley. They won the bronze medal in pairs at the 1960 United States Figure Skating Championships and competed in the Winter Olympics and World Figure Skating Championships that year.
  
• Laurie Jean Hickox
• William Holmes Hickox
• Maribel Yerxa Owen was an American pair skater.
• Dudley "Dud" Shaw Richards was an United States figure skater who competed in men's singles and pairs. In singles, he won the bronze medal at the 1953 United States Figure Skating Championships and finished sixth at that year's World Figure Skating Championships....
  

• Roger Campbell was an American figure skating who competed in ice dancing. After partnering with Diane Sherbloom in 1959, he won the bronze medal at the 1960 United States Figure Skating Championships with Yvonne Littlefield and went on to finish eight at that year's World Figure Skating Championships.
  
• Dona Lee Carrier was an American figure skating who competed in ice dancing with Roger Campbell. The pair won the silver medal at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships, earning them the right to compete a month later at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague.
• Robert Dineen was an American figure skating who competed in ice dancing with his wife Patricia Dineen. The pair won the gold medal at the 1961 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships and the bronze at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships, earning them the right to compete a month later at the World Figure Skating Champ...
  
• Patricia Major Dineen was an American figure skating who competed in ice dancing with her husband Robert Dineen. The pair won the gold medal at the 1961 Eastern Sectional Figure Skating Championships and the bronze at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships, earning them the right to compete a month later at the World Figure Skat...
  
• Dallas "Larry" Pierce was an United States figure skater who competed in ice dance. With partner Marilyn Meeker, he captured the junior title at the 1959 United States Figure Skating Championships....
  
• Diane Carol "Dee Dee" Sherbloom was an United States figure skater who competed in ice dance. Previously paired with Roger Campbell, she had no intentions of competing at the 1961 United States Figure Skating Championships until a twist of fate brought partner Larry Pierce her way....
  

• Alvah "Linda" Hadley - coach
• William Kipp - coach
• Deane McMinn - team manager
• Maribel Vinson Owen - coach
• Daniel "Danny" Ryan - coach
• Edi Scholdan was a figure skating and figure skating coach.Scholdan was born in Vienna and, as a competitor, represented Austria at the 1933 World Figure Skating Championships.
• William Swallender - coach

• Harold Hartshorne was an United States ice dancer.With partner Nettie Prantell, he was the 1937-1939 United States Figure Skating Championships and 1943 bronze medalist medalist.
  
  
• Edward LeMaire was an United States figure skater who competed in pairs and men's singles. In pairs, he won the junior title at the United States Figure Skating Championships in 1942 and won a bronze medal in senior pairs the following year with Dorothy Goos.
  
  
• Walter S. Powell - referee

Family of team members

• Ann Campbell
• Louisa Hartshorne
• Nathalie Kelley
• Richard LeMaire
• James Scholdan
• Sharon Westerfeld