[free me]

The day the music died...

[atomic conspiracy]

This article mentions only "the pilot" of the Beech Bonanza without giving his name. He was Roger Arthur Peterson, a 21 year old newlywed.

Contrary to some reports, Roger was fairly experienced. He had been flying for five years and had accumulated more than 600 hours. He was not instrument rated, however, and conditions that night were marginal for visual flight, to say the least. He had 128 hours in Beech Bonanza, an allegedly challenging aircraft known colloquially as the "Fork-Tailed Doctor-Killer" for its "butterfly" tail structure and its sometimes fatal popularity with the medical profession. It is very likely Roger was confused by the unusual design of the Sperry attitude gyro that had recently been installed in that particular aircraft. This instrument could easily be interpreted backwards by pilots who are not used to it.

[SamAdams76]

An interesting sidebar to this episode is that Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the plane but at the last minute gave up his seat to the "Big Bopper" and took a bus instead.

Buddy Holly joked to Jennings that "I hope your bus freezes up" and Jennings shot back "Well I hope your darn plane crashes."

[windcliff]

ping

[a fool in paradise]

Have a Holly Day.