Nick Vanos
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Nicholas Vanos (April 13, 1963 - August 16, 1987) was a basketball player for the Phoenix Suns basketball team. The San Mateo, California native was recruited by the Suns in the 1985 NBA draft. He played for the Suns as a center on the team. His career with the Suns only lasted two years before coming to a tragic end.
On August 16, 1987, Vanos boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 255 for a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. The McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 crashed on takeoff, killing Vanos and the other passengers, as well as two motorists. 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan was the only survivor of the crash.