[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.

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks for the info.

[BBell]

Thank you for steering us back on topic.

[jwparkerjr]

My take on the crash over the years has been that he iced up and there was nothing he could have done to avoid coming down.

Be that as it may though, thank you for posting his name and the info about him.

I was a junior in high school the day the music died.