Former Heavyweight Champ Dies in a Plane Crash On this day, in 1969 0n August 31, the eve of his 46th birthday, Rocky Marciano was a passenger in a small private plane that crashed and killed him. August 31, 1969 Sport: Boxing Trivia Which Nations Won the Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals the Last Time Baseball Was an Olympic Sport? What Are the Five Events That Make Up the Modern Olympic Pentathon? sports in this article Boxing tags in this article Fan On This Day SportsEngine