National Transportation Safety Board 490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20594 Contact: Liesl Chapin 24-hour phone: (720) 244-0870

March 6, 2015

NTSB REOPENS BUDDY HOLLY PLANE CRASH CASE Aviation Enthusiast Provides NTSB with New Insights on Crash (WASHINGTON D.C.)—Aviation enthusiast L.J. Coon sent the National Transportation

Safety Board a letter asking the board to look at various factors of the infamous plane

crash that took musician Buddy Holly’s life. The crash also took the lives of Ritchie

Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson on February 3, 1959 a few miles from

Mason City Municipal Airport near Clear Lake, Iowa. The board originally blamed the

accident on the pilot’s lack of training, but Coon has reason to believe that other factors

played into the cause of the crash.

In order for the National Transportation Safety Board to reopen a case, a party must

provide the board with new information suggesting the cause to the crash. Coon

investigated contributing factors to the crash and found evidence that allows the board to

reexamine the case.

“After the Board Members have adopted an accident report, recommendations, and

probable cause, a party or any other persons with a direct interest in the accident

investigation can formally petition the Safety Board to reconsider all or part of the

analysis, conclusions, or probable cause,” the NTSB Major Investigations Manual states.

-more-

NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD RECEIVES INSIGHT ON BILLY HOLLY PLANE CRASH

“When petitions for reconsideration are received, their receipt must be promptly

acknowledged then assigned to staff for research and evaluation of the issues raised.”

National Transportation Safety Board originated from the Air Commerce Act of 1926.

The board’s duties include the investigation of all aviation and other transportation

incidents including those of railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline. The Federal

Government selects the members of the board, and the board oversees transportation

throughout the United States.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigates transportation related accidents.

Please contact Liesl Chapin at (720) 244-0870 or visit the NTSB’s website

http://www.ntsb.gov/  for  further  information  regarding  the  reopening  of  the  case  or  

the  board.    

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