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Incident
Trooper Pilot Lance Dietsch and Trooper Stanley Gerling were killed in an airplane crash while searching for an elderly man who had wandered off. They were about to call off the search when the troopers located him in a soybean field. They began to circle the area when the plane made a sudden turn and crashed vertically into the ground. Trooper Pilot Dietsch had served with the Iowa State Patrol for six years.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Pilot Dietsch gave the Iowa State Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Iowa. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Pilot Dietsch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Iowa State Patrol has lost 12 officers; 9 of them lost to accidents.
Lance is one of 71 officers lost to accidents in IA, 31.4% of the 226 remembered there.
Lance is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Lance is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1989, 2 officers at Iowa State Patrol were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1989, 2 officers in IA were lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 50 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 3.
In 1989, 84 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1989, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Lance was 30. Of the 9 lost to accidents at Iowa State Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 43; the middle age was 37. Lance had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Lance was 30. Of the 69 lost to accidents in IA whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 38. Lance had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lance was 30. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Lance had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Lance was 30. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Lance had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 44.4% of these deaths at Iowa State Patrol, more than any other month. Fridays: 44.4%.
June holds 16.9% of these deaths in IA, more than any other month. Fridays: 16.9%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 75% of all 12 deaths at Iowa State Patrol, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 31.4% of all 226 deaths in IA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Iowa State Patrol has 12 officers remembered here, Lance among them.
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Oran H. Pape
Apr 30, 1936
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Harold Emmerson Klinkefus
May 18, 1949
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Harold Clarence DeGear
Feb 19, 1954
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Ralph Franklin Garthwaite
Jul 2, 1955
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Marvin C. VanderLinden
Jun 11, 1965
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Charles Gerald Whitney
Jun 16, 1985
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Lance G. Dietsch
Jun 30, 1989
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Stanley E. Gerling
Jun 30, 1989
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Allen Patrick Nieland
Oct 14, 1990
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Mark Edward Toney
Sep 20, 2011
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James Kyle Smith
Apr 9, 2021
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Theodore Lawrence Benda
Oct 20, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Iowa State Patrol are honored on badge.nw.
