Buddy Holly Author Searching For Expertise
 

Hi everyone,

I am the author of three histories on Buddy Holly's final tour, the Winter Dance Party of 1959, and I am currently prepping the fourth book in the series which will be a thorough look into the February 3, 1959 crash of the 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza which took the lives of Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson...

My major problem thus far? I'm not at all an expert on flying and the various and odd sundries which keeps a plane up in the air or the circumstances which sends it unceremoniously back to the ground. I am smart enough to admit that I don't know much in this regard and I really need a qualified pilot with an extensive knowledge of this particular model of a Beechcraft to navigate me through some of the jargon behind the 1959 CAB Report on the crash and to give me his or her professional take on what might have caused this plane to crash. Would there be anyone reading this that might meet my criteria and be willing to help me get a firmer grasp on this accident?

My contact e-mail is [email protected]

Hoping to get some responses from this!

This is going to be an interesting one chaps.
Can anyone post the 1959 CAB report ?

Hi everyone,

I should have posted this earlier...Would any pilots be able to take a gander at this 1959 CAB Report and get back with me on YOUR take on what might have happened?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...87611401,d.cWc

Here you go Civil Aeronautics Board Report on the Crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. Doesn't seem to want to link; you may have to copy and paste. Yesterday's news is reporting that the investigation may be reopened; strange coincidence?

Being in Lubbock, you might well find a good number of veteran pilots who flew or even still fly that model of Bonanza based on Texas airfields. Contact the various flying clubs and general aviation fields in your neck of the woods and the chances are you will find someone to help and take an interest in your project.

Stingo1,
Most of the information in the CAB report is general in nature and not specific to the Bonanza. Any commercial single-engine pilot or flight instructor should be able to help you.

Looks like a good CAB Report to me, in both analysis and conclusions.

I'll make one point. In flying there really is no such thing as "light" snow. It's either snowing or it's not. Flying in snow at night can be very disorientating even for the most experienced pilots There are many requirements needed to fly safely in snow, "light" or otherwise, not the least of which are sound instrument flying skills.

Sadly Peterson seems not to have been experienced enough to appreciate the dangers of flying into this kind of weather, and he was unlucky that the people who could and should have advised caution did not apparently do so - if the report is correct.