Posted on 03/07/2015 8:34:46 AM PST by Impala64ssa
... be hailed a hero for trying to avert disaster'
An investigation into the 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and three others could now be reopened after a respected pilot brought forward new factors as to how the aircraft may have gone down.
At the time of the crash, the Civil Aeronautics Board ruled the probable cause of the crash was error by the pilot, Roger Peterson, who took off from Mason City to Moorhead, Minnesota, in inclement weather, even though he was qualified.
The chartered plane crashed in Iowa not long after takeoff, killing Holly, Peterson, and musicians Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson.
Now L.J. Coon, an experienced pilot from New England, says a variety of other factors - such as weight and balance calculations, the rate of the plane's climb and descent, fuel gauge readings and the passenger-side rudder - should have been considered, according to The Globe Gazette.
The National Transportation Safety Board has agreed to consider reopening the investigation.
Coon's motivation was to 'the heroic effort that took place in those 4.9 miles' by the pilot, Peterson, before the plane crashed.
The plane had been in the air less than four minutes.
Coon received a letter from the NTSB saying they had received his call for a reinvestigation.
'You have gotten our attention. Let us do our due diligence in order to give you a proper answer,' the letter stated.
The NTSB will now determine whether or not the submission meets the requirements of a Petition for Reconsideration.
History and many other people believe that Peterson was the direct cause of the February 3, 1959 crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“Yeah, no pilot error there. A 21 year old pilot, taking off into snow and 30 mph gusting winds, at 1am, for a cross country flight over featureless terrain, without an instrument rating, carrying 3 young rock stars. Who could ever call that pilot error?”
I’m with you...the NTSB must have a bunch of EXTRA BUDGET to kill.
(Highlighted Text = Mine)
Despite the damage to the cockpit the following readings were obtained:
* Magneto switches were both in the "off" position.
* Battery and generator switches were in the "on" position.
* The tachometer r.p.m. needle was stuck at 2200.
* Fuel pressure, oil temperature and pressure gauges were stuck in the normal or green range.
* The attitude gyro indicator was stuck in a manner indicative of a 90-degree angle.
* The rate of climb indicator was stuck at 3,000-feet-per-minute descent.
* The airspeed indicator needle was stuck between 165-170 mph.
* The directional gyro was caged.
* The omni selector was positioned at 114.9, the frequency of the Mason City omni range.
* The course selector indicated a 360-degree course. * The transmitter(1) was tuned to 122.1, the frequency for Mason City.
* The transmitter(2) was tuned to 122.1, the frequency for Mason City.
* The Lear autopilot was not operable.
This is not exactly true. I’m also a pilot (20 years, military, UH-60 Blackhawks). Why do we have accident investigation boards? Pilot error is common, no doubt. But material failure, maintenance failures, ATC mistakes, etc do happen. Some things even the best pilot can’t recover from.
“The pilot is responsible for everything that happens to the airplane he is flying.” - What about a lightning strike?
Not trying to start an argument here. In my career I’ve seen a few pilots get rail-roaded for things that weren’t their fault. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen a few hot dogs get away with stuff that definitely was their fault.
Putting the “Big Bopper” in the back seat might not have been a good thing for the CG either.
Over 80% of aircraft mishaps are attributed to pilot error. Very few are associated with mechanical difficulties as well as other factors (ATC, weather and other things).
So, yes, in about 80% of the time the pilot is responsible but NOT always. How can you can say the pilot is responsible if a mechanic used the wrong bolts and a wing falls off or a flock of small birds suddenly flies up into the engine?
With the stated conditions, it clearly is because he didn't exercise good judgment, and he and his passengers are still dead. Actions he may have taken just prior to the crash make it so they are heroically dead.
Your post reminded me of a funny discussion I had with my Granddaughter (13 yrs.) one night on “Facebook”! She was talking back and forth about the pitfalls of having long hair.
I typed out part of that song from “Hair” that came from the musical play. The part that said “Oh give me a head with hair, long beautiful hair, shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen.... Grow it, show it, long as I keep growing my hair!”. (at least I think that’s how the lyrics go)
She said: “You’re funny Grandma, and old songs are cool!”! She got a kick out of that! I did take the time to play from You Tube a lot of old rock and roll, country, rockabilly, classical, etc.. for her and her younger brother. They still like a lot of old music, and listen to it sometimes, as well as the modern music of One Direction, Taylor Swift, Katie Perry, etc..
In fact, in order to help them see what kind of music/artists were popular in my youth, I did an experiment once. I asked them one time what was one of the groups or artists they listen to now. The girl replied: “One Direction”. I told her: If you could imagine going back into the past, about 50 years ago or so, and you’ll find The Beatles! She laughed in appreciation of that!
My Grandson made a paper airplane once, and was flying it around the house trying to sing “Snoopy vs. The Red Baron”, it was so cute! He was a few years younger then; and I had played that old song for them, by the Royal Guardsmen. It had come out in the later 60s, when I was about their age! (11 or 12)
So was Ricky Nelson and a couple of the members of Lynard Skynard!
That is so cool!
I teach music, and my students (especially the guitar students) LOVE the music of the Beatles, the Stones, Led Zep, and Pink Floyd.
We do an occasional “Maroon 5” or Taylor Swift Song, but as soon as the songs are off the charts, the kids don’t care about them anymore.
Then, it’s Back to the Beatles! :-)
Yes. If he had those people might have survived.
It may not be fair, but they are dead.
What an awful crash that was.
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