(Welcome! Please Subscribe and watch our videos!). Christy Wong examines the life and the crash of music star John Denver, who died on October 12, 1997 when he crash his Rutan Long EZ into the ocean off Monterrey Bay, Pacific Grove, California. #johndenver #johndenverplanecrash
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00:00 Introduction
00:35 Who John Denver Was
01:07 Young John Denver – Growing Up
03:07 First Folk Group The Alpine Trio
03:37 John Denver Goes Solo
04:07 John Denver’s Love of Flying
04:59 John Denver Into the 90’s
05:28 John Denver Buys the Long EZ
07:41 John Denver Gets Checked Out in the Plane
08:42 The Fateful Day of the Crash
10:23 The Crash
11:21 John Denver’s Lost Medical and Alcoholism
13:15 NTSB Report on the John Denver Crash
15:35 Wrap Up
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Well done. This is one of the most researched and informative short documentaries that I have seen.
I am the mechanic that was the last person to see John Denver alive. As you can imagine, this was a horrible tragedy and has had a huge impact on my life, much more than I can convey in a comment.
One thing I will point out is you answered a question that I’ve had for 25 years, and that was the labeling of the fuel selector valve, before it was painted at the shop in Santa Maria.
John and I spoke at great lengths as to what position was what, regarding the fuel selector.
All of the labels near the switches, circuit breakers, fuel selector and fuel gauges were gone, when John and I talked.
The aircraft had been parked in the maintenance hangar where I worked over the weekend, I happened to be out on that Sunday, doing my IPC with my flight instructor when John asked to retrieve his airplane. Being the only person on site on a Sunday, with keys to the maintenance hangar, I offered to help him get his airplane. He had always been very friendly before when I encountered him flying his Christian Eagle (located in a separate private hangar), so I was happy to help him out.
We talked about the modifications that he intended to do for about 45 minutes. I loaned him a fuel sump cup and a 2” Mac Tools inspection mirror. I also provided him with three options of pliers during the discussion of extending the fuel selector handle, so he might be able to reach the handle better. The plier fix was a terrible idea and I did not like the idea of him using pliers to extend the reach, because it increased the force applied to the mechanism.
Anyway. So much, much more to the story.
Out of respect for John, I only spoke to investigators for about twenty years. I finally gave two interviews when the 20 year anniversary was coming up.
John had offered for me to go with him that day, and I declined. The “survivors guilt” was very difficult to come to terms with, but I have learned immensely from the whole experience. May John Rest In Peace.
John Denver's fondness for a drink, had nothing to do with the cause of his accident.
I think the crash was caused by gravity
Geez, do you really need to go into that much into his personal life and career? A small segment, then get into the crash.
I've always been a John Denver fan but never realized his Texas connection and didn't know his last concert was in my home town of Corpus.
Interesting, for what ever reason I had no idea this occurred in CA, I've always thought it was near the East Coast for whatever reason. Perhaps I got it confused with Jon Kennedy, which by the way, have you covered his collision yet? It should be very interesting from what I remember.
Always wondered why he couldn't make a controlled landing after he ran out of fuel. Power off landings are a common and essential part of flight training. So inadvertant rudder pedel movement would explain it.
What about that song that he made. Sunshine On My Windshield makes me nose dive. Sunshine almost always makes me die.
You could fly me christy.😁
Suicide
He was a fine man!
LSD and marijuana are good for your mind
Thank you this was extremely informative. I enjoyed John’s music very much. The good die young.
god bless and keep you
Finally I know what happen ! He went out doing what he loved to do !!! FARRR OUT
I was in pacific grove that day. I drove right by the crash site about two hours before (17 mile drive). Such a sad day for his fam. Rest In Peace John.
So sad….it was a big loss to lose john denver. I loved his music
A lot of bla bla
It's a shame he didn't make relocating the fuel selector switch a higher priority. That was an accident waiting to happen.
It broke my heart to hear John died in an Airplane Crash since I am a pilot. Blessings on you for bringing this to us
I was and remain a fan of John's. But there were so many factors involved in this crash that I always had the suspicion it was a suicide. Major factors were his depression over his divorce and the impending (possibly permanent) loss of his pilot license. Just my amateur opinion.
The only time an airplane has too much fuel on board, is when it’s on fire.
I have lived in Corpus Christi my entire life. I was friends with an FM radio sales person that had VIP tickets to John’s last show. I was happy to meet John as I always liked his mellow laidback music. I was his age at the time and we kinda connected just talking about different life experiences. I’ll never forget talking with him and meeting him and then a few days later have him crash to his death. RIP John!
I have this similar Aircraft…earlier version of it..Varieze…this are very high performance homebuilt aircraft…Its not a traditional cessna or piper type aircraft..I was even scared when I flew it first time..Definitely a pilot should have good idea and enough training to fly this planes.
Wow! That is quite a last name!
what was the glide ratio of that aircraft. It doesn't look that good.
I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for filling the gaps concerning the reason(s) of his accident.
Very thorough and respectful review. GOD bless you.
Not just any space shuttle. John was a leading candidate to be on Space Shuttle Challenger.
Texas nice? Huh huh you funny!
I remember that day, thanks for the reminder.
I owned a 1989 Longeze with an 0320 engine very much like John Denver's. I was lucky enough own it and fly it 500 hours over five years. Those planes are like magic carpets. Having the fuel selector valve up on the top of the back rest puts if from a position lower than the fuel tanks on the floor to a position higher than the fuel tanks. This could easily create some problems with fuel flow when switching tanks. These planes have 52 gallons of fuel capacity counting both tanks. If one tank was half full that's a long time of flying before that tank went dry. But if he took off on the one quarter full tank and if he ran it dry at 500 feet above the sea then he could have easily done the crash as described. If you were going at cruise speed and the engine quit you could zoom up at least another 500 feet. If the fuel selector was on the floor where it was supposed to be it would take about one second to flip to the other tank. Glad to here John was sober and glad to here he loved that plane. I used to think maybe it was suicide but now I am sure it was an accident. Thanks for the story.
I believe John Denver flew up out of the Waters and became an Eagle… I heard him say in one of the decomentaries that he wanted to come back as an Eagle, I will come back as an Eagle. I loved this man and was sad when he died. Thanks for all the details… Very well done!
from Texas -but he
sure as Shat Loved the Shat
out of Denver & the Entire
State of Colorado
May God Almighty Rest his soul 🤝🙏💖
As far as my opinion on what should have or not have happened 🙁 deep down I’m aware nobody cares what my opinion is.
I’m just here to send my condolences 🕊
Correct me if I'm wrong but due to past DUI arrests he was not cleared to fly.
I think his song Looking for Space was one of his best but also tells us a lot about him
Bless his heart those final moments must have been truly truly terrifying.. quickly though and then into pure holy heavenly realms free from his addictions… I didn’t realize he had dare-devil tendencies…
There is a park bench that was placed on the shore near the crash site. There is still a small group who meet there on the annual anniversary of the crash.
He should’ve fueled 😢