Madden's aversion to flying is well known. Two different theories have developed as to the cause. One theory relates to the October 29, 1960, Cal Poly football team plane crash that claimed the lives of sixteen players, the team's student manager, and a football booster. Having graduated from Cal Poly only two years prior, Madden lost many friends in the accident. However, it is known that Madden flew up until 1979, when he had a panic attack on a flight originating in Tampa. The details, nature and extent of this panic attack are not known. Madden, however, stated once in an interview that his fears were not about turbulence, flying, or heights, but primarily claustrophobia. He also once noted that when he did fly, traveling all over the United States, it did not allow him to see anything.