Plane Crash That Killed Buddy Holly May Be Re-Examined

The Day The Music Died. February 3rd, 1959 was the day a small aircraft carrying rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, killing everyone on board. The day was memorialized in Don McLean's song "American Pie". Feature films have been made about the lives of both Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. Country star in the making, Waylon Jennings, was also supposed to be on the flight, but gave his seat up. It would haunt him for decades. The cause of the crash was initially determined to be a combination of pilot error and an incomplete weather report the night of the crash. But now, the case could be reopened.

The National Transportation and Safety Board received a letter from an aviation enthusiast, saying other factors may have contributed to the crash. They include the aircraft's weight and balance, issues with the rudders and carburetor icing. The NTSB has 2 months to review the claims and decide if the case warrants further investigation.