The Plane Crash of 1959 - Richie - Buddy - Big Bopper

Watch the most shocking footage of the late 50's when the world best rock stars died in a plane.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Plane
• Crash
• Stars
• Richie
• Valens
• Buddy
• Holly
• Big
• Bopper

[CHn11000]

DARN THE COIN FLIP

[putty1994]

@Nattieluvsjimmy so did i such a shame he Richie was so young it's a tragedy!

[galoon]

@1234clydey I'm from the South, myself. I saw a nice M1911 for sale not too long ago; I wish I'd bought it now--I've never owned a .45 before! Buddy's pistol was a small German-made "Saturday night special"--I don't know whether it was a revolver or a semi-auto. I think it was a .22 but I'm not sure.

[1234clydey]

@galoon it was for me alot i knew that crime was bad in parts of worlds and texans love to carry guns im from the south as well... and i knew they carried around lots of money my choice of weapon would be a m1911 colt but i guess he had different tastes

[galoon]

@1234clydey Not at all suspicious. These guys had to carry around large amounts of cash from their shows; they weren't paid by check. Buddy wasn't the only performer back then who carried a pistol with him on the road. Plus, he was a Texan; having a gun isn't unusual at all for them. If I was toting around $200 cash in my pocket on the road in 1959, I'd want to pack a revolver, too. Buddy had his tires slashed when he was on the road once before; crime was a very real threat in some places.

[galoon]

@sm350bl1 It wasn't carb icing; this Bonanza did have carb heat. Plus, the CAB accident report noted that both prop blades were sheared off at the hub, indicating that the engine was producing power at the time of impact. When the crash occurred, the plane had only been aloft for about 5 minutes.

[TheSomethingIsh]

The pilot WAS experienced, it was just very snowy and maybe he couldnt see anything, so when he thought: " Hey lets go down " then he made a mistake... its not the fault he didnt know anything, he just couldnt see in the snow (My conclusion)

[drummerbob51]

Hey you guys, debating over this crash will not bring Buddy Holly back. The fact is he died young just when his career was really taking off. Since nobody will ever know exactly what happened that night, why don't we just honor his memory by enjoying his great music.

[65rock4ever]

I'm not going to waste any more time arguing over a tragic event which occured over 50 years ago. Go ahead, have the final say here, I don.t care. The bottom line : three musicians died because a young kid fresh from flight school over-estimated his capabilities and those of the airplane. You can think whatever you want, but I've spoken to many other pilots with decades of flight time who happen to agree the failure to maintain a proper scan was the main factor here.

[65rock4ever]

I'm not hung up on the instrument scan -- this was the NTSB's conclusion, not mine. Obviously the weather was not suitable for flight, however , with light blowing snow the airport was still above VFR minimums when the plane departed. The young inexperienced pilot interpreted this as being okay. I would suggest in the future you examine the NTSB and other reports regarding a crash before jumping to conclusions. Also, ice affects ALL airplanes regardless of size. Air Florida 737, DC-8-62, etc

[CaptainArt777]

@65rock4ever I let you have the last word since you are so hang up on the instrument scan which in my view had only contribute maybe 10% to the crash. It is my unshaken believe that Weather and the pilot decision to fly while still on the ground was the making of the crash. I never said that icing cause the crash, only that it could have been a factor. I said from the beginning that the pilot was a brand new instrument pilot and should have stay on the ground. I give you the last word.

[65rock4ever]

The NTSB report on this crash concluded that spatial disorientation by the pilot was the main factor. Icing was not listed as a significant factor in the crash. The plane had not been airborne long enough for the neccesary accumulation of ice to affect flight. The NTSB pointed to bad judgment by the pilot in attempting flight under these weather conditions. The disorientation was the result of no real time IFR experience including failure to scan the panel correctly. Buddy deserved better.