The Iowa State Patrol today (Sunday) is remembering two Patrol Troopers who died in Cass County on this date, 30-years ago. It was on Friday evening, June 30, 1989, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Iowa State Patrol requesting help with locating an elderly man who had wandered away from a nursing home. Trooper/Pilot Lance Dietsch, of Council Bluffs, and Trooper Stanley E. Gerling, of Atlantic, responded in a Maule Patrol aircraft. The search was about to be terminated when the two troopers spotted the man in a soybean field.

The airplane turned sharply and plunged into the ground, nose first. The crash killed both troopers. Troopers Dietsch and Gerling were the first aircraft fatalities since the addition of the Patrol Airwing in 1956. Dietsch was 30-years old, and a six-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol. Gerling was 34-years old, and in his first year of service to the Patrol.

On October 8th, 2012, two bridges in Cass County were dedicated in their names. They are located west and northeast of Lewis along Highway 6, as it traverses Indian Creek, and Turkey Creek.

Trooper Stanley E. Gerling

Trooper Lance G. Dietsch